BPD & Local Church to Help at-Risk Youth

BRADENTON –  The Bradenton Police Department is again partnering with Kingdom Life Christian Church for the 6th annual “Honoring the Badge” event, a community outreach program targeting at-risk youth.

The BPD says the goal is to raise $2,500 to buy Toys R’ Us gift cards. 100 children from at-risk families in Bradenton will be chosen by community leaders to accompany off-duty, uniformed police officers to Toys R’ Us sometime in December to go on a shopping spree for Christmas presents.

Each child will be teamed up with a police officer who will help the child select a toy under $25 and then take it to the cash register to pay for it.

The city says that “Honoring the Badge” helps show the children that the police are their friends and are here to help and it instills in them the rewards of helping others.

Donations may be sent to Kingdom Life Christian Church, PO Box 717 Ellenton, FL 34222.