DuPage officers help brighten holidays for local kids

A Transformers action figure. A blender. A video game for the Nintendo Wii.

More than 60 children from lower-income families in DuPage County selected these and other items during a holiday shopping spree Saturday morning at the Meijer store in Bloomingdale.

It was all part of the annual Shop with a Sheriff/Shop with a Cop program, which pairs children with officers from the DuPage County Sheriff's Department and numerous municipal police departments.

“To see the smile on those kids' faces, that's the best thing about it,” said DuPage County sheriff's Sgt. Randy Groh, who organized the event.

Township organizations throughout the county helped connect police with local children from needy families. Each child spent $125 on Saturday, with the cost covered by Meijer and the sponsoring law enforcement agencies.

“We try to give back to the community, because they've been so welcoming to our stores,” said Rob Vassar, director of the Meijer in Bloomingdale. “This is one way to do that, and we're proud to be part of it.”

The children arrived at the store via a long procession of squad cars, which entered the parking lot with lights flashing and sirens blaring.

Once in the store, the children fanned out and, while accompanied by the officers, shopped for themselves, their parents and their families.

When the children finished selecting their gifts, volunteers from the Milton Township Community Emergency Response Team wrapped them.

Groh joined the DuPage County Sheriff's Department 14 years ago, and has been involved with Shop with a Sheriff for most of that time.

“You know, we generally get called only for the bad stuff that happens,” he said while watching children shop. “This is a time when we can have positive contact with children from the community, and that's very important.

“Plus, if you need something to get you in the Christmas spirit, it's all right here.”