Police help spread holiday joy to low-income families
New frying pans. Hannah Montana shoes. A thick fuzzy blanket.
More than a dozen children from low-income families in the Lombard area chose those and other items during a holiday shopping spree at the Lombard Target store on Saturday morning.
It was all part of the 10th annual Shop with a Cop program, which pairs children with local police officers for the special shopping trip. A similar event happened Saturday in Bloomingdale, where local police officers took 20 disadvantaged children on a trip to the Bloomingdale Meijer store.
"I'm glad we do this early in December because it really gets you in the holiday spirit," said Lombard police Sgt. William Marks. "In a matter of hours, this group of children from struggling families will have everything they need for a wonderful Christmas. It doesn't get much more rewarding than that."
Shop with a Cop is co-sponsored by Target, the Lombard Police Department and the Lombard Citizen's Police Academy Alumni Association, which raises funds throughout the year to pay for the presents.
York Township Family Services helps identify needy families for the program. On Saturday, 16 children from nine local families participated.
Lombard police officers picked up the children at their homes and brought them to Lombard's village hall. When all were present, the officers brought the children to Target via a police motorcade, complete with flashing lights.
After a quick breakfast provided by the store, the children fanned out and shopped for gifts for their families. Secret Santas from the police department, meanwhile, purchased gifts for the children.
"It's such a fun event, and it really encapsulates the meaning of Christmas," said Jim Krupka, president of the academy association.
Lombard police Lt. Scott Watkins said that in addition to brightening the holidays for
families in need, Shop with a Cop helps strengthen the police department's bond with the community it serves. He said many of the officers who participate do so immediately after putting in a full overnight shift.
"Something like this shows that experiences with the police department aren't always negative," Watkins said. "It's our hope that the children who do this with us will become our friends and ambassadors in the community."