The smell of apples permeated the bays at Upper Township Fire Department in Hecla this past Friday. Several large bags of apple cores and peels were stacked in the back of Lawrence County Sheriff’s Deputy Daren Hamlin’s pickup truck, mere remnants of what used to be 35 bushels of apples that will soon become apple butter.

It’s part of the Lawrence County Shop With A Cop program’s fundraiser. The apple butter created from these apples will be sold at Walmart in South Point to raise money for the program, which aims to help children from low-income families have a better Christmas.

“This is just one of the things we do to raise money,” Joyce Caskey, Lawrence County Sheriff’s deputy and spokeswoman for the program, said. “We are also selling raffle tickets and taking orders for Rada Cutlery catalog items.”

Along with Lawrence County law enforcement officers, Caskey said, there are other integral parts to the program’s success. Partners include the Ironton Municipal Court, the Lawrence County Municipal Court, common pleas court and employees from the Lawrence County Prosecutor’s Office.

“It takes so many people to make Shop With A Cop possible,” Caskey said. “Employees from other offices, departments and agencies are helping out tremendously. We have one person from the prosecutor’s office who is with us full-time right now.”

Last year 50 children went shopping with a cop and Caskey said this year’s goal is at least that many and “for sure no fewer than that.”

“We are always taking donations,” she said. “Either monetary donations or raffle items are always accepted. This year we had someone donate a bedding set and a quilt, so if people buy raffle tickets and don’t win the TV, there’s still two more chances to win a prize.”

Shoppers were also treated to dinner at Giovanni’s last year and Caskey said this year cops aim to take the students and their families out to eat.

“This event is also a community outreach program for law enforcement,” she said. “Kids tend to view cops in a negative light and we hope this program changes that for at least some of them.”

A program of this magnitude could not be successful, Caskey says, without support from people the community.

“On behalf of everyone involved I would like to thank those who have purchased apple butter, raffle tickets or something from the catalog,” Caskey said. “Without the support of the community, none of this would be possible. Upper Township Fire Department deserves praise for letting us use its facility and people like Mary and Ralph Hamlin who have opened up their home to make the apple butter and provide meals to the people who work so hard on this event have been great.”

Raffle tickets are $5 each, which buys a chance to win a 51-inch Samsung flat panel TV or one of two donated items. Rada orders and the money for those orders are due by Thursday.

Raffle tickets can be purchased at Walmart in South Point or by contacting a law enforcement officer. Other items, such as apple butter and Rada, can be ordered by contacting a law enforcement officer.  The drawing for the raffle is Monday, Dec. 16, at Walmart in South Point and the apple butter will be sold until it is gone. Contact any law enforcement officer for more information.