Shop with a Cop

Donates a Total of $10,000 to St. Francois County And Ferguson Law Enforcement Holiday Giving Programs 

For the 26^th year the Electrical Connection is a major supporter of the law enforcement community trust building program “Shop with a Cop.”  The labor-management partnership is contributing $5,000 each to St. Francois County “Shop with a Cop” and Ferguson “Shop with a Cop.” The Electrical Connection is a partnership of the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) Local 1 and the St. Louis Chapter, National Electrical Contractors Association (NECA).  This year’s donation raises the Electrical Connection’s 26-year commitment to “Shop with a Cop” to more than $75,000.

The St. Francois County “Shop with a Cop” program is among the oldest and largest in the nation.  This year, it served more than 500 children on Dec. 18, 2018 when law enforcement throughout the state came to the Farmington, Mo. Wal-Mart to buy children holiday gifts they would not otherwise receive.  The following day, on Dec. 19, 2018, the Ferguson police department hosted its “Shop with a Cop” program at the Ferguson Community Center at 1050 Smith Ave., serving more than 30 children. Gifts at the Ferguson event were purchased at Target. The Electrical Connection has supported the Ferguson “Shop with a Cop” for the past three years.

The Electrical Connection was joined by Saint Louis FC at both “Shop with a Cop” events.

Members of the Electrical Connection provide safe and reliable electrical construction, maintenance, repair and replacement services across Missouri, the nation and the world.  For more information visit www.electricalconnection.org.

Donates a Total of $10,000 to St. Francois County & Ferguson, Mo Law Enforcement Holiday Giving Programs 

Farmington police officer Jeff Kostedt paid it forward through a law enforcement trust building program that turned his life around when he was a child. On Dec. 15, 2017 Kostedt helped brighten the holidays for underpriveleged children in the 25^th annual St. Francois County “Shop with a Cop” program – a charity that served him 18 years ago when he was just seven years old.  Kostedt and countless children from families in need are the reason the Electrical Connection has supported St. Francois County’s “Shop with a Cop” and helped re-energize a similar program in Ferguson, Mo.

As a child growing up in rural St. Francois County, Kostedt said his parents didn’t have the means to buy Christmas gifts.  His life was such that he was afraid of the police. “I always thought they were going to take me away from my family,” said Kostedt.  That changed in 1999 when he was selected along with dozens of disadvantaged children to participate in the St. Francois County “Shop with a Cop” holiday giving program.

“Jeff is an extraordinary example of how a community can work together to build trust and make a real difference in lives,” said Danny Miller, president of Farmington-based Total Electric.  It was Miller who first engaged the Electrical Connection to support “Shop with a Cop” in 1993.  The Electrical Connection is a partnership of the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) Local 1 and the St. Louis Chapter, National Electrical Contractors Association (NECA).

The St. Francois County “Shop with a Cop” program is among the oldest and largest in the nation.  This years, it served more than 500 children.  Over the past 25 years, the St. Francois County program has been supported by donations from business and civic organizations, including more than $65,000 from the Electrical Connection.  The program pairs police with children to buy holiday gifts with donated funds.

“When Danny Miller brought the program to our attention 25 years ago, we never dreamed it would grow into this incredible act of kindness every year serving hundreds of children,” said Doug Martin, CEO St. Louis NECA. “’Shop with a Cop’ has been such a difference maker that can build trust in other communities.”

Last year, the Electrical Connection expanded its support, putting its partnership with Saint Louis FC to work with a fundraiser to support the St. Francois County program and reenergize the Ferguson, Mo. “Shop with a Cop” program.  The fundraiser was held again this year.  The Ferguson “Shop with a Cop” program was on December 13, 2017 at the Ferguson Community Center.  The Electrical Connection donated $5,000 each to the Ferguson and St. Francois County programs.

“Our electricians and communication technicians not only serve these communities, but live in them as well,” said Frank Jacobs, business manager, IBEW Local 1.  “They are committed to helping our neighbors in need year round.”

“We are grateful the Electrical Connection helped us again brighten the holidays for disadvantaged children in our community,” said Ferguson Police Chief Delrish Moss.  St. Francois County Sheriff Dan Bullock echoed those sentiments.  “The Electrical Connection’s enduring commitment to our program has helped it grow into one of the largest in the nation,” said Bullock.

“Our Electrical Connection partnerships are more than just business development,” said Jim Curran, executive vice president, Electrical Connection. “We actively listen to our partners to help them find worthy civic engagements that align with their mission.  Such was the case with Saint Louis FC and ‘Shop with a Cop.’” The Electrical Connection was joined by Saint Louis FC at both “Shop with a Cop” events, distributing jerseys and soccer balls to the children.

Members of the Electrical Connection provide safe and reliable electrical construction, maintenance, repair and replacement services across Missouri, the nation and the world.  For more information visit www.electricalconnection.org.

“Christmas in July” Game Raises Money to Support St. Francois County and Ferguson, Mo. “Shop with a Cop” 

For the second year in a row, one of the most successful law enforcement community trust-building programs is receiving a big boost from a partnership between the Electrical Connection and Saint Louis FC.   The Electrical Connection is sponsoring Saint Louis FC’s “Christmas in July” fundraiser at its July 22, 2017 soccer game to raise money for the Saint Francois County and Ferguson “Shop with a Cop” programs.

“We’re hoping to build on the momentum of last year’s fundraiser to encourage more people, businesses and civic organizations to support this great law enforcement trust building program,” said Jim Curran, executive vice president, Electrical Connection.  The Electrical Connection is a labor-management partnership of the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) Local 1 and the St. Louis Chapter, National Electrical Contractors Association (NECA).

Shop with a Cop raises money so law enforcement can take disadvantaged children December holiday shopping for gifts they would not otherwise receive.  The “Christmas in July” fundraiser will celebrate both programs at the Saint Louis FC soccer game against the Louisville City FC at Toyota Stadium in Fenton, Mo.  Pre-game ceremonies will spotlight the history of “Shop with a Cop,” which is celebrating its 25^th anniversary in St. Francois County this year.  Fans will receive a limited edition 2017 holiday ornament commemorating the event for a donation.

“Our partnership with the Electrical Connection has allowed Saint Louis FC to expand its outreach through programs like ‘Shop with a Cop’ that bind a community,” said Patrick Barry, president, Saint Louis FC.  “Last December, we attended both ‘Shop with a Cop’ events in St. Francois County and Ferguson and saw law enforcement connect with disadvantage children in extraordinary ways to brighten the holidays.”

The Electrical Connection has supported the St. Francois County program since 1993 donating a total of more than $59,000.  It expanded its “Shop with a Cop” support last year to reenergize the program in Ferguson, Mo., donating $5,000.

            “We greatly appreciate how the Electrical Connection and Saint Louis FC are leveraging their partnership again to support our program,” said Ferguson Police Chief Delrish Moss.  “It was incredible to see the look on the children’s faces as we presented them with gifts for the holidays last year.”

The newly energized Ferguson “Shop with a Cop” program served more than 60 children last year.   Over the past 25 years, the St. Francois County “Shop with a Cop” program has gradually become one of the largest in the nation, serving more than 500 children last year.

“We are grateful that the Electrical Connection through its partnership with Saint Louis FC is going to ensure the success of our 25^th year of serving children through ‘Shop with a Cop,’” said St. Francois County Sheriff Dan Bullock.

Members of the Electrical Connection provide safe and reliable electrical construction, maintenance, repair and replacement services across Missouri, the nation and the world.  For more information visit www.electricalconnection.org.