By Rusty Nixon Correspondent
PLYMOUTH — Like the lighting of the community Christmas tree or pumpkin pie, it’s become a holiday tradition: the annual Shop with a Cop & Emergency Personnel auction, live on WTCA AM 1050.
“We started about three years ago,” explained Kathy Bottorff of WTCA. “We had been given a Chicago Bulls autographed basketball by Scott Skiles (then the coach of the Bulls, now the coach of the Milwaukee Bucks), another business had given us an overnight stay and we had a diamond necklace. We decided to auction them off for Shop with a Cop one day.”

The results were dramatic.
“In three hours we made $600 for them,” said Bottorff. “The next year came along and we said ‘we can do this.’ So we put some work into it; we had about 40 items and we made $6,000. That took 60 kids shopping.”
On Dec. 3 from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. WTCA AM will become a marketplace for all kinds of items – all helping take kids shopping for Christmas.
The Shop with a Cop program has become even more of a Christmas tradition in Marshall County. Each year FOP Lodge #195 raises money to take as many kids in need as they can on a shopping trip for Christmas. Local businesses and service organizations have jumped on board over the years to help. Fundraisers like the auction, the annual FOP Car Show and Motorcycle Run along with local donations make it all happen.
“In our business we’re very community oriented,” said Bottorff. “We feel like Shop with a Cop is really doing a great thing – trying to brighten up kids’ holidays.”
Last year an authentic replica NASCAR helmet with the signatures of nearly a dozen drivers brought the top bid in the auction. An authentic helmet signed by racer Dale Earnhardt Junior is a big item in this year’s auction.
“It’s a lot easier for businesses to donate their services or goods than cash,” said Bottorff. “This lets people get their Christmas shopping started.
“We have all kinds of items up for bid — hair care products, oil changes, car detailing, meals — We’re going to have pictures of the items on the Internet (www.am 1050.com) for people to look at.”
The goal is a simple one.
“My ultimate goal would be to take every kid shopping,” said Bottorff. “Last year 700 kids signed up for the program and they could only afford to take 318. It will take a lot of money but that would be what I’d like to accomplish.”