Once again this year the Susanville Police Officer’s Association will be giving Santa a hand, collecting money and taking a group of well-deserved local kids shopping at Wal-Mart for a present they can play with Christmas morning. The children will be provided with gift cards and escorted through the store by officers from the Susanville Police Department on Saturday, December 12th at their annual ‘Shop with a Cop’ party.
The kids get a chance to meet Santa along with cookie decorating, face painting and reindeer games with the Lassen College Men’s Baseball team.
This year the event is expected to be even bigger with the sponsorship of more children, an increase in the amount each child has to spend and breakfast for all of the participants.
According to Officer Terra Avilla, who coordinates the annual holiday party, nominations were just opened last week and already the Police Officer’s Association has been inundated with names of families and children.
Some of the money for this incredible program was raised at the Police Officer’s Ball this fall, but the association is relying on contributions from the community to fully fund the event. Avilla said that last year’s response was overwhelming and that because of generous contributions every single eligible child who was nominated was able to participate.
How can you help?
The Police Officer’s Association is looking for people who can volunteer to be helper elves during the Shop with a Cop event and of course any monetary contributions you make are appreciated immensely by both the organization and the kids helped by the program.
Shop with a Cop is a terrific opportunity to help our local kids in need with 100% of your donation going directly to the child’s shopping spree. Donors are invited to come spend the morning at the store and see the looks on the faces of the children as they get to shop for Christmas.
Donations or Wal-Mart gift cards can be dropped off at the Police Department, 1801 Main Street.
Click here to visit the Susanville Police Officer’s Association on Facebook.
