Sunshine Division Partners with PPB, Fred Meyer To Bring 250 Kids Back-To-School Shopping

Sunshine Division is partnering with the Portland Police Bureau and Fred Meyer to provide a back-to-school shopping experience for 250 Portland-area children in need on Thursday, Aug. 21.

Sunshine Division’s 23rd annual Izzy’s Kids “Shop With A Cop” event will take place from 7 a.m. to 11:15 a.m. at the Johnson Creek Fred Meyer (8955 SE 82nd Ave, Happy Valley).

Portland Police Chief Bob Day and Sunshine Division Executive Director Kyle Camberg will share brief remarks to welcome families before shopping begins.

Each child will receive a $165 Fred Meyer gift card and be paired with a Portland Police Bureau officer or local first responder to help them shop. Gift cards are provided through Sunshine Division’s Izzy’s Kids program.

Fred Meyer will offer significant clothing discounts during the event and provide free school supplies and toiletries for every child. Columbia Sportswear is also contributing backpacks for participating children. 

Families will begin checking in around 7 a.m. near the Fred Meyer Garden Center. Representatives from Sunshine Division, Fred Meyer, and the Portland Police Bureau will be available for interviews.

“This event not only provides clothing and school supplies for hundreds of children whose families can’t afford them; it also creates an opportunity for law enforcement to have a positive, lasting influence on young people in our community,” said Officer Rashida Saunders, Sunshine Division’s Bureau Liaison.

Children selected for Izzy’s Kids “Shop With A Cop” are identified based on their financial need and referred to Sunshine Division by agencies across the Portland metro area. Registration for this year’s event is full.   

“Every year, we see children and families light up with joy from simply being able to choose their own clothes,” said Kyle Camberg, Executive Director of Sunshine Division. “A fresh set of clothes can give kids a boost of confidence that helps them focus and learn more easily.”

The Izzy’s Kids program was founded in 1981 in honor of Sunshine Division’s late board chair, Isabel Hoyt. Thousands of kids have received new school clothing through this program over the years, which today serves approximately 500 children annually.

Media are invited to attend: 

Event: Sunshine Division’s 23rd annual Izzy’s Kids “Shop with a Cop”

Date: Thursday, August 21, 2025

Location: Johnson Creek Fred Meyer, 8955 SE 82nd Ave, Happy Valley, OR 97086 (check in near Garden Center)

Arrival Time: Kids will begin to shop at about 7:30am, ending around 11:15am

Children wearing a BLUE lanyard have consented to being on camera. Please do NOT shoot footage of children wearing a RED lanyard.

Sunshine Division Contact:
Kyle Camberg | kyle@sunshinedivision.org | 503.300.7982

Who Qualifies? Children from K-12 in need of school clothing. Registration for this event is closed and all spots have been filled for the event.

Gift Card Amount: $165 (additionally each child will receive school supplies and toiletries donated by Fred Meyer and a backpack donated by Columbia Sportswear)

ABOUT SUNSHINE DIVISION: 

Since 1923, Sunshine Division has provided immediate food assistance to families and individuals in times of crisis. Sunshine Division serves tens of thousands of households in the Portland metro area every year through its food pantry, weekly home-delivery program, holiday meal delivery program, bulk food distribution, and partnering social service agencies. Each year, Sunshine Division also provides new school clothing for approximately 500 children in need through its Izzy’s Kids “Shop With A Cop” program. 

For information about Sunshine Division’s year-round hunger relief efforts, please visit their website at www.sunshinedivision.org

View full size image of Chief Day and a woman stand with a child

View full size image of A female officer with two children