“Shop with a Cop” joins underprivileged children with law enforcement officials who help the kids to spend donated money toward Christmas gifts. The non-profit program not only provides children with the opportunity to buy gifts for themselves, such as clothing and toys, and their families that they could not otherwise afford, but also helps break down barriers between the community and law enforcement with the goal of building better relationships between the two.

A bus along with participating deputies will pick the children up at a designated location and transport them to Clarion Walmart where they will begin their shopping experience. The children will each have an allowance for shopping. The group will then meet for dinner before returning home.

“Last year, we had an overwhelming amount of support from people all over, not just in our county,” said Sheriff Wolfgang. “We received just over $9,800, which gave us the opportunity to take all 55 kids we received applications for shopping, give each of the 42 families a gift card to buy any needed food for their Christmas meal, and treat the kids to a McDonalds dinner.”

“The kids along with the officers and many volunteers went shopping at Walmart in Clarion to buy such items as boots, shoes, coats, jeans, and presents for other family members and a toy for themselves. It was a wonderful day not only for the kids but for the officers and volunteers as well. ”

If you are interested in donating to the Shop-With-A-Cop program please send your monetary donation in the form of a check or money order payable to Forest County Sheriff’s Office/Special Programs, 526 Elm Street #9, Tionesta, PA 16353. Please make the notation of Shop-With-A-Cop in the memo line.

For more information, call 814-755-3541.