Bryant Police Department gives back to the community

Little Rock, Arkansas – This week, the Bryant Police Department hosted their annual shoe giveaway.

Each year students from the district are chosen to meet the officers at Shoe Carnival to pick out their favorite pair of shoes to take home. The youth chosen range from elementary school to high school students.

According to the police department, this is a way for them to bridge the gap between law enforcement and the community.

The idea came from seeing all of the supply giveaways and deciding they wanted to step outside of the box and give children new shoes for the new school year to boost, Todd Crowson with the Bryant Police Department said.

The Department hosts fundraisers throughout the year to fund this shoe event and Santas with Badges in December.

“Our community has been there for us. We can’t say enough great things about the people that live here and this is just a way for us to give back and help those that just need a break from everyday worries,” Crowson said.

The department was able to provide 49 Bryant youth with brand new shoes, and they look forward to reaching more kids in the coming years, the department said.

“The smile on the kids’ faces says everything. Every child, regardless of age, walked out last night feeling happy because they were able to pick out whatever shoes they wanted. It’s important to show these kids, all kids, that we care about them and we want them to feel important because they are,” Crowson said.