More than 100 police officers participated Saturday in the annual Shop With a Cop event, which provided 133 children $225 each to go Christmas shopping.
Most of the officers participating met at the Wildewood shopping center plaza before 9 a.m., and paraded down Route 235 in a line, sounding the sirens on the way to Wal-Mart to start the shopping spree.
Det. William Raddatz reports the children were each given the budget to spend on themselves, but most bought gifts for their parents, grandparents and siblings.
The program’s goal is to bring Christmas to children that may not have one otherwise, and to have police officers interact with them in a positive way. It is sponsored by the Optimist Clubs of St. Mary’s County and many other groups, including corporate donations from Wal-Mart.
“This program grows each year. It is a testament of how great a community in which we live. This is a gift to us, the volunteers to be able to give back to the people we serve,” said Shop With a Cop founder and Chairman Joseph Stanalonis.
After the shopping was done, officers from the St. Mary Sheriff’s Office, State Police and many others, traveled to the county fairgrounds to help the children wrap the presents.
See the huge slideshow below for dozens of pictures from the day, and be sure to click on any picture for a larger view.
