ROANOKE, Va. – This week concluded the annual West End Walk where kids got to hang out with police officers in Roanoke followed by a walk to the Grandin Theater.
For the second year in a row, about 100 kids from the West End Center got their dose of summer fun playing a game of basketball with police officers.
“They inspire me because they're brave and they help our city,” said Shamyila Dunge, a child at West End Center.
When the summer program first started, two officers participated.
This year, the turnout was a slam dunk.
“This year, we had at least 20 come, and it says a lot about our community, about the integrity of our police who do actually care,” said Melanie Huber, development director of West End Center.
This community effort gave the kids a chance to feel included while getting a good workout at the same time.
“They ask us what we do in our daily business, do we have kids, what are their names, what do they do,” Roanoke Police Deputy Chief Monti Lee said.
After a good game, the officers walked with the kids to the Grandin Theater.
“It's a cultural experience by having them walk to the Grandin Theater,” said Joy Parrish, executive director of West End Center.
“It's really quite an experience for them to see that room and know that this building is for them as well as everyone else in the community,” said Ian Fortier, executive director of the Grandin Theater Foundation.
After getting to know these officers, who knows? Some of the kids may even enter law enforcement as a profession.