CINCINNATI, Ohio — At just 11 years old, Christianna Cole knows how to grocery shop.
- Police officers are showing kids how to grocery shop on a budget
- It’s all part of the “Get the Groceries” program through the Cincinnati Police and the Police Activities League
- 100 kids got $100 to get healthy foods
She’s going straight for the basics.
“I’m gonna get bread, milk, fruit, and vegetables,” Christina said.
But what she doesn’t know is how to get it all on a budget.
That’s where Shawna Stone comes in.
“Usually we have a calculator helping them,” said Stone, Cincinnati Police.
Detective Shawna Stone is one of the officers showing kids how to add up the cost — part of which is coming from her own wallet.
“If they go over, I’ll just come out of my pocket and help them, I won’t let them put anything back, I’ll just help them get it,” said Stone.
Because these aren’t just any kids, Stone says some of them are like her when she was a kid.
“When I grew up, my mom, she raised five kids a single parent, and, you know, my mom was trying to survive, so, a lot of times we didn’t eat, we didn’t know what we were gonna eat, so, you know, this makes me happy, where these kids, they’re able to shop and get food, not going hungry,” said Stone.
One hundred kids each got one hundred dollars to get healthy foods.
The shopping trip came after an education on nutrition and help from dozens of officers.
“Often times, when schools are out, they don’t have access to food, so this is a direct impact allowing families to sustain themselves, and it feels good to know that you’re making a difference,” said Stewart Isaacs, Cincinnati Police.
And they have, as a part of the “Get the Groceries” program.
It’s an annual program through the Cincinnati Police and Cincinnati Police Activities League.
Since the program started, they’ve helped hundreds of kids get food on a table on a budget.
