RAPID CITY, SD — Students from schools on the Pine Ridge Reservation and in Rapid City got a head start on the school year Tuesday with help from the Salvation Army of the Black Hills and local law enforcement.
The annual “Shop with a Cop” event took place at Southside Walmart, where 65 students picked out new clothes and other essentials for themselves and, in some cases, for family members too. Organizers said the outing is meant to ease the cost of back-to-school shopping while giving children a positive experience with police, deputies and Bureau of Indian Affairs officers.
Back-to-school spending has become a heavier lift for many South Dakota families. Couponbirds, a shopping savings website, said the average cost for supplies, clothing and related items in the state reached $581 in 2025, up more than 10% from $519 in 2024.
Why the shopping trip matters for families
Major Amy Voss, corps officer for the Salvation Army of the Black Hills, said the event is held at the start of the school year to help children who may not have new clothes for class. She said the shopping trip gives them a chance to choose what they need rather than go without.
Voss said some of the children also think about siblings or other relatives while they shop. Organizers said it is common for a child to ask for items they can share at home, such as socks or clothing. That kind of practical help is part of what has kept the program going since 2010.
The event is not limited to one school district. By bringing together students from the reservation and Rapid City Schools, the program reaches families with different needs but the same basic challenge: paying for new school-year basics at a time when many budgets are tight.
A larger donor match gave students more to choose from
Retired law enforcement member John Long said this year’s outing stood out because a donor matched what the program does with the children. He said that extra support allowed students to look at more clothing items and personal hygiene products than in past years.
Long described the 2025 version of the event as the strongest one yet. His comments pointed to the way donations can directly expand what children are able to take home, from clothes to everyday supplies that are often overlooked until they are needed.
The added support also gave organizers more flexibility on the sales floor. Instead of focusing only on the basics, students were able to browse a wider range of items and make choices based on what they and their families could use most.
Students shopped for siblings and relatives, too
Angie Mason, event and volunteer coordinator for the Salvation Army of the Black Hills, said shoppers often think beyond themselves once they start filling their carts. She said children frequently mention a brother, sister or other family member who was not with them.
That kind of sharing can shape what ends up in a cart. A child may choose an item with the idea of giving it away later, or pick up a larger pack of socks knowing it will be divided among several people at home. Organizers said that detail shows how closely the event is tied to family needs, not just individual wants.
The shopping trip therefore works on two levels. It gives students something new to wear and use for school, and it also stretches the help a little further for households where one trip can make a difference for several people.
Law enforcement relationship remains central to the event
Along with meeting practical needs, the program is designed to build trust between children and law enforcement. Long said he saw students high-fiving police officers, deputies and BIA law enforcement personnel during the event, which he said made the effort feel worthwhile.
That connection has been part of Shop with a Cop since the Salvation Army of the Black Hills began the program in 2010. Organizers say the event creates a setting where officers and children interact in a positive, low-pressure environment outside of any emergency or enforcement role.
For participants, the experience is as much about relationship-building as it is about shopping. The hope is that the children remember the day not only for the clothes and supplies they received, but also for the friendly faces beside them while they shopped.
How the Salvation Army says donors can help
The Salvation Army of the Black Hills says it welcomes donations for Shop with a Cop from supporters who want to help continue the program. The organization directs donors to its website for contributions.
With school costs still rising, the group’s annual shopping event remains one way to ease the burden for families in the Rapid City area and on the Pine Ridge Reservation. Organizers say the combination of donated support, volunteer time and law enforcement participation is what makes the day possible each year.
For the students who took part Tuesday, the trip meant more than a quick run through the store. It was a chance to leave with new school items, a little extra support and a memory tied to the start of the year.
Rising school costs made the event more valuable this year
Back-to-school shopping costs have climbed enough to make a visible difference for families across South Dakota. Couponbirds estimated the average total at $581 in 2025, which was more than 10% higher than the $519 average it listed for 2024.
Those figures include common school-year needs such as notebooks, paper and clothing. Against that backdrop, organizers said programs like Shop with a Cop can help offset expenses that arrive all at once before classes begin.
The shopping day at Southside Walmart gave students immediate access to items they could use right away. For families trying to cover school supplies, clothes and household needs at the same time, that support can ease pressure during one of the most expensive times of the year.