Very special shopping spree

Sixteen Bloomingdale kids got the police ride of their short, little lives.

Some of the village's most underprivileged arrived in front of the Meijer grocery store Saturday in one of a half-dozen police cruisers, their lights and sirens blaring for all the shoppers outside the store to see and hear.

They spent most of the morning fitting new shoes, rolling through the store on bikes and scrutinizing aisle after aisle of games.

The annual "Shop With a Bloomingdale Cop" will ensure each of the kids receives a proper Christmas.

Each child got to pick out more than $200 worth of merchandise, thanks to donations from several local businesses and the Bloomingdale Fraternal Order of Police Lodge 175.

"It's a chance for these kids to interact with a police officer in a positive light," said officer Steve Abruzzo, who helped organize the event.

Many of the families were referred to the program through area churches and food pantries.

"I cried on the phone when I learned I'd be able to participate," said Latonia Powell as she shopped for shoes for her two sons, Tyrese, 4, and Triston, 8. "What a blessing."

Across the store, 4-year-old Sean Kramer was wheeling down the aisle in a bright orange bicycle decked out with training wheels.

Within minutes, Sean was bounding back down the aisle looking for his Power Rangers ball.

"Where is it?" he protested, before catching sight and snagging the ball from mom's shopping cart.

"Obviously, you can see who's full of sugar," officer Brian Healey joked as he helped Sean's mother, Carol, pick out toys for Sean and his sister, Kaylee, 11.

Many of the officers Saturday volunteered their mornings for the event.

Second-year officer Tara Makowskyj took the extra step of napping in the police department's locker room after her overnight shift to get ready for the event.

"When you're that tired, the locker room floor feels really good," she said. "Today is the best part of the year for us and a lot of these kids."