Saturday, seven buses loaded with 150 kids, all headed to Kmart for Christmas shopping. Now that sounds like a disaster in the making, but no worries; it was the annual “Shop With a Cop” event sponsored by Peoples Assistance Food Bank and Joy Junction.
Kids were paired with a policeman who helped the young shoppers pick out Christmas gifts for their families. But “Shop With a Cop” is more that just Christmas shopping. It teaches the kids that cops are not the bad guys. Co-Director of Joy Junction David Kaufman.
Fifteen year-old Summer Tilman bought a muffin and egg pan for her mom and a coffee mug for her step dad. She says shopping with a cop can be awkward, yet fun.
It's all about planting seeds in young people.
Each child was given $25 to shop with.