It was a happy true blue Christmas for 130 kids on Saturday.

Manteca Police officers on their own time plus other volunteers helped 130 kids from struggling families to shop for Christmas gifts.

Each child was able to select items totaling $125 during the 10th Shop with a Cop event at Walmart.

The shopping event was underwritten by the Manteca Police Chief’s Foundation.

“We wanted to make sure that the kids have a Christmas,” said Manteca Police Chief Stephen Schluer.

That meant the rules were a bit different this year.

In the past when kids asked for food to help their families or basic needs like a warm jacket or shoes, they were allowed to spend some of the money on those items.

This year organizers — thanks to the Second Harvest of the Greater Valley food bank — were able to give each child a $20 SaveMart gift card to take home for their family.

And if there was a need for a warm jacket or such, officers and volunteers used other avenues to make that happen.

That meant the money was all spent in Christmas for the kid.

Not only that, the foundation upped the amount spent per child from $100 last year to $125 this year.

They also increased the number of youngsters they took shopping by 20.

Shop with a Cop is just one of the community-based endeavors the foundation helps fund for youth.

The foundation was founded in 2008 by then Police Chief Dave Bricker in a bid to support at-risk kids and counter the influence of gangs.

The Christmas effort — along with the Healthy Room Project and support of the Boys & Girls Club — are the three primary benefactors.

The foundation also pays for the Junior CSI programs the police department conducts and the Ruth Bricker Memorial Scholarship.

They also help organizations that combat child abuse, the food bank, and other endeavors.

The sole fundraiser is the Police Chief’s Ball conducted each year. This year the event raised $130,000.

The Healthy Room Project “transforms lives, one room at a time”, typically for at-risk kids between the ages 5 and 16. 

The endeavor, that started in Los Angeles, is a collaborative effort involving police officers, mentors, teachers, and parents/guardians to identify vulnerable children — especially from single parent families.

The effort improves physical health, enhances emotional health, increases productivity, promotes safety, fosters independence and responsibility, improves sleep quality, builds self-esteem, as well as encourages healthy habits.

The youth involved don’t know exactly what is happening although their preferences and interests were solicited in planning for the one-day makeover of the bedrooms in different homes.

The project can include painting bedrooms and providing everything from beds complete with mattresses and desks to dressers. 

So far, the effort has done the makeover of 47 bedrooms of youth in Manteca’

Dozens more are being tackled on Jan. 23.

All foundation funds are spent in Manteca including the bedroom project.

Those that are interested in contributing financially can call the chief’s office at 209-456-8139 and mention they are interested  in The Healthy Room Project.

Any donations can be earmarked for specific endeavors the foundation does including the bedroom makeover.

To contact Dennis Wyatt, email dwyatt@mantecabulletin.com