Sheriff’s Office Completes “Christmas in July” Fundraiser for Annual Shop with the Sheriff Program

In July, the Pottawattamie County Sheriff’s Office conducted its annual Christmas in July fundraiser in support of the department’s long-running Shop with the Sheriff program. The event raised money to support children from across the county’s rural school districts during the upcoming holiday season.

Shop with the Sheriff began in 1998. Each year, it provides winter essentials and gifts to children in need. Deputies, correctional staff, and dispatchers volunteer to take the children shopping in person. Each child receives items such as shoes, coats, clothing, and a few gifts from their Christmas wish lists.

The program serves 50 children from about 20 families. Participants are selected through coordination with school staff. Families submit wish lists, and shopping takes place at Target later in the year.

“This is my favorite work event to plan,” said Rikayla Champlin, senior administrative assistant at the Pottawattamie County Jail. “It helps kids and gives them a chance to see law enforcement differently.”

The program includes students from five rural school districts: Treynor, AHSTW, Underwood, Riverside, and Tri-Center. Students from Council Bluffs and Carter Lake participate in a separate program through their local police departments.

This year’s fundraising goal was $20,000. According to Champlin, a regular donor organization that had supported the event in past years is no longer operating, which created a funding gap.

To help close that gap, the sheriff’s office placed decorated Christmas trees in both the courthouse and the sheriff’s office. Each tree featured ornaments with QR codes that allowed people to donate electronically through the Community Foundation for Western Iowa. Donation amounts were tied to specific items. For example, $20 covered a pair of shoes, $50 a coat, and $300 fully sponsored one child.

Champlin said it takes a wide range of donations to reach the goal. “We don’t rely on one large donation. We get there through many smaller ones.”

She also noted the importance of starting early. “We usually begin asking for donations a little earlier in the year, but this year we started the campaign in July to allow for more time. Once school begins in August, we’ll be working with school administrators to identify families and begin coordinating wish lists.”

Champlin has been involved with the program for 24 years. She said the event has grown and changed over time but remains a tradition valued by the entire department. “It takes a lot of planning to get it right, but it’s worth the effort.”

She added that the community plays a key role in keeping the program going. “Every dollar helps. Whether it’s $5 or $300, all of it goes directly to supporting the kids.”

The Shop with the Sheriff event will take place later this year, and organizers hope the early fundraising push made in July will allow them to meet their goals and serve the same number of families as in previous years.

Donations are still being accepted through the Community Foundation for Western Iowa. The sheriff’s office encourages anyone interested in supporting the program to visit the foundation’s website or contact the department directly.