LINC invited some 40 children with their parents to join in a shopping trip with Kansas City-area police officers at Target at the Ward Parkway Shopping Center.

“In this season I think it’s important that we give back,” said parent DeKeisha Lora, whose daughter Oliveya, 13, got to shop for clothes and other necessities. “But it feels good being a recipient this time.”

The children got to see local law enforcement officers as caring friends, Lora said, and it also sent a warm message about Kansas City’s generosity.

“It makes me feel,” she said, “like if I have a need, it will aways be met.”

The families recruited by LINC met at the Caring Communities site at Morning Star Youth and Family Life Center at 27th and Prospect, shared a pizza dinner, then loaded onto a bus or carpooled to Ward Parkway, where the Kansas City Fraternal Order of Police had gathered dozens of volunteering officers with gift cards to go shopping.

LINC emphasized to its children and parents to focus on buying items like clothing, shoes and hygiene products.

“This is a very good thing for the community to have,” said 16-year-old Anthony, one of the LINC children sharing in the event. “We need to show our love and our kindness to spread good things around Kansas City.”

Click on the images below to enlarge the pictures.