Hoffman Estates marks 20th anniversary of Shop with a Cop

Hoffman Estates police will mark the 20th anniversary of their holiday Shop with a Cop event Saturday, Dec. 14, and will be joined by village firefighters for the first time to help bring joy to children and families in need.

The police department's event has grown every year since it began. On Saturday, 80 children will be paired with officers from Hoffman Estates, as well as South Barrington, Inverness and the Illinois State Police.

The children will travel by bus from the police station to the Hoffman Estates Target store, where officers will help each one shop for gifts for their entire family.

Target employees dress as elves for the event, and the store will provide discounted gifts and free gift wrap.

The wrapping table will be staffed by many volunteers, including Mayor Bill McLeod, village trustees and Village Clerk Bev Romanoff.

The Chicago Marriott Northwest will provide a free breakfast in its ballroom for all participants. There, other area businesses will host activities where children can play, have their faces painted, create a craft project and receive a visit and specially selected gift from a surprise visitor from the North Pole.

When the children return to the police station, they receive a stocking filled with treats and a gift card to Aldi for their families to shop for holiday meals.

All the participating children are referred by area school district social workers, social service agencies and police officers.

The event is a project of the Hoffman Estates Police Charitable Foundation, sponsored by the Hoffman Estates Village Foundation, a certified nonprofit.

For more information on the event, including how to donate, contact police Lt. Carl Baumert at (847) 781-2807 or carl.baumert@hoffmanestates.org.