Prince Frederick, MD – Christmas can be a stressful time for families experiencing economic hardships. Children seem to feel it the worst. Fortunately, in Calvert County local law enforcement always comes to the rescue. Saturday, Dec. 12 uniformed cops, with sirens blaring, arrived amid much Yuletide fanfare to the Prince Frederick Kmart in Fox Run Shopping Center along with several youngsters who were ready to do some Christmas shopping.

The Shop with a Cop program is sponsored by the Calvert County Sheriff’s Office, the local Fraternal Order of Police (FOP) and the Calvert County Optimist Clubs—Prince Frederick, SYB, and Solomons.

According to Dfc. Andre Mitchell, the participating officers, picked up the children at their home Saturday morning. The participants then had breakfast at Mamma Lucia’s in Prince Frederick.  Around 9:30 a.m. the entourage, which included sheriff’s deputies, Maryland state troopers, officers from the Maryland Natural Resources Police, the Calvert County State’s Attorney’s Office and Explorers drove to Kmart where they were enthusiastically greeted by the red-garbed store employees.

“We want to go all out,” store director Robert Spencer told The BayNet. “We want to be engaged—show the kids a good time.”

In 2006, the local Optimists partnered with the FOP to establish the Shop with a Cop program in Calvert. “This program fosters a positive environment for the children and police officers to share in conversation, working as a team and enjoying a meal together as the kids wrap the gifts purchased for others,” a synopsis on the local Optimists website stated. The children are given a stipend of $150 for purchases and may buy at least one gift for themselves. In 2011, the Optimists and FOP expanded the program to provide a “Back to School-Shop with a Cop” program for underprivileged middle school children.

After the shopping had been completed, the group went to the Prince Frederick Volunteer Fire Department for gift-wrapping, which was followed by a lunch catered by Chick-fil-A.

The local Shop with a Cop program is funded by donations from the Calvert-Prince Frederick Optimist Club, businesses, and individuals.

At the same time Shop with a Cop was taking place at Kmart, the Southern Maryland Red Knights Motorcycle Club—an organization for firefighters—was purchasing toys and other gift items for their annual drive. Club President Alan Billings told The BayNet the club raised $3,000 through a recent boot drive, enabling them to purchase gifts for 62 children in Calvert and St. Mary’s counties.

Anyone who would like to donate to the local Shop with a Cop program should make checks payable to “Calvert Shop with a Cop, P.O. Box 851, Prince Frederick, MD 20678.

Contact Marty Madden at marty.madden@thebaynet.com