Partnership Helps 250 Kids Gear Up for School
- Portland Observer
- 18 hours ago
- 2 min read
Portland Police Bureau and Fred Meyer Team Up for Students
Sunshine Division is partnering with the Portland Police Bureau and Fred Meyer to provide a back-to-school shopping experience for 250 Portland-area children in need on Thursday, Aug. 21.
Sunshine Division’s 23rd annual Izzy’s Kids “Shop With A Cop” event will take place from 7 a.m. to 11:15 a.m. at the Johnson Creek Fred Meyer (8955 SE 82nd Ave, Happy Valley).
Portland Police Chief Bob Day and Sunshine Division Executive Director Kyle Camberg will share brief remarks to welcome families before shopping begins.
Each child will receive a $165 Fred Meyer gift card and be paired with a Portland Police Bureau officer or local first responder to help them shop. Gift cards are provided through Sunshine Division’s Izzy’s Kids program.
Fred Meyer will offer significant clothing discounts during the event and provide free school supplies and toiletries for every child. Columbia Sportswear is also contributing backpacks for participating children.
Families will begin checking in around 7 a.m. near the Fred Meyer Garden Center. Representatives from Sunshine Division, Fred Meyer, and the Portland Police Bureau will be available for interviews.
“This event not only provides clothing and school supplies for hundreds of children whose families can’t afford them; it also creates an opportunity for law enforcement to have a positive, lasting influence on young people in our community,” said Officer Rashida Saunders, Sunshine Division’s Bureau Liaison.
Children selected for Izzy’s Kids “Shop With A Cop” are identified based on their financial need and referred to Sunshine Division by agencies across the Portland metro area. Registration for this year’s event is full.
“Every year, we see children and families light up with joy from simply being able to choose their own clothes,” said Kyle Camberg, Executive Director of Sunshine Division. “A fresh set of clothes can give kids a boost of confidence that helps them focus and learn more easily.”
The Izzy’s Kids program was founded in 1981 in honor of Sunshine Division’s late board chair, Isabel Hoyt. Thousands of kids have received new school clothing through this program over the years, which today serves approximately 500 children annually.