The Forest County Sheriff’s Office has announced it will be conducting the fourth-annual Shop with a Cop program in December.
The event, which will take place on Sunday, December 18, joins underprivileged children with law enforcement officials, who help the youth spend donated money toward Christmas gifts.
The non-profit program not only provides children with the opportunity to buy gifts for themselves and their families that they could not otherwise afford, but is designed to help break down barriers between the community and law enforcement.
Last year, the sheriff’s office received more than $9,000 in donations, and that money gave the department the opportunity to help all 75 children who applied for the program. Each family was given a full box of everything they would need for a Christmas meal, in addition to treating the children to a McDonald’s dinner.
“We’ve been fortunate enough with the community’s donations coming in that we haven’t had to turn any child away,” sheriff Bob Wolfgang said. “This wouldn’t be possible at all without the donations.”
As in past years, the children, officers and volunteers will be shopping at the Walmart in Clarion for gifts such as boots, coats, jeans and toys.
Wolfgang said Joseph Muccio Transportation assisted with travel last year by donating two drivers and two school buses.
Participating deputies will pick the children up at a designated location and transport them to Walmart.
Each child will have an allowance for shopping, and the group will meet for dinner before returning home.
Anyone interested in donating to the Shop with a Cop program can send monetary donations 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.
A notation of Shop with a Cop should be included in the memo line.
More information is available by calling (814) 755-3541.