Program benefits children, families

Tina Parker/Siloam Sunday Siloam Springs police officer Frank Henry handed a present to Audrey, 5, daughter of Brandon Leach and Felicia Deshane. The Police Department provided the family gifts through its ‘Cops for Kids’ holiday program.
Tina Parker/Siloam Sunday Siloam Springs police officer Frank Henry handed a present to Audrey, 5, daughter of Brandon Leach and Felicia Deshane. The Police Department provided the family gifts through its ‘Cops for Kids’ holiday program.

Brandon Leach and his girlfriend Felicia Deshane have had a rough winter so far. Leach, who is a contract worker, has seen his paycheck dwindle. The rains throughout the last month have put his work and paycheck on hold.

He said that the summer months were good to him and his family, which includes three daughters, Audrey, 5; Adalynn, 2; and McKenna, 11 months, but because of a lack of funds, he was afraid that his girls wouldn't have a Christmas at all.

Fortunately, his father, Jimmy Leach, discovered, after a conversation with an officer from the Siloam Springs Police Department, that a program called "Cops for Kids" could help his son provide presents for his daughters.

"Officer Free told me to talk to Officer Walter and I did," Jimmy said. "And I was able to put (my son's family) on the list."

Cops for Kids is a program similar to Shop with a Cop, which provides gifts for children. Siloam Springs school resource officer DeAndra Walter said that each child on their list is allocated $150.

"We spend $75 on necessities, such as diapers and clothing, and $75 on want, such as toys," Walter said.

Officers meet at local stores and purchase items on the list, then the gifts are wrapped for distribution to 20 children in nine families, Walter said.

Leach held back tears Monday night when a caravan of police officers and Santa delivered gifts to his children.

"We were struggling and my dad set this all up for us," Brandon said. "This is one of the best things (the Police Department) has done -- I like it, especially when they were coming down the streets with their lights on playing Christmas music."

General News on 12/28/2014