Shop with a Cop happening Dec. 17; donations appreciated

Riding in a police car, shopping with a police officer in your own personal gift-wrapped cart, picking out Christmas presents for yourself and for your family – this is what children will experience at Shop with a Cop on Dec. 17.

Shop with a Cop is a partnership between Waxahachie Police Department, Harvest Family Life Ministries and Walmart. It pairs Waxahachie police officers with children, and together, they walk through Walmart to buy Christmas gifts.

“The goal of it is to give all these kids that may not have a really good Christmas the chance to have a wonderful Christmas,” community services officer James “J.T” Taylor said.

Harvest Family Life Ministries identifies families in need through the school system and through CPS. These are families who may not be able to have a good Christmas because of financial situations, health situations or other situations. Last year, about 70 children participated.

On Dec. 17, the families will arrive at the police station, where the children will be paired up with a police officer, with Taylor saying they keep siblings together. From there, they pile into squad cars, and the officers drive them to Walmart.

Each child gets a gift card they get to spend on Christmas gifts.

“This is literally for them to buy their own presents, but some of them (also) spend their money buying gifts for their family,” Taylor said.

“This is a chance for them to buy whatever they want to buy,” he said. “It could be one thing, or it could be 10 little things.”

After piling their carts full of Christmas gifts, the children and police officers check out. The parents have the option to wrap the presents and save them for Christmas or let their children enjoy their presents that day.

Walmart helps plan the event by gift-wrapping all the carts, having participants park on the side of the building and having Walmart associates on hand to help with anything.

In the past, Walmart associates had calculators to help add everything up and walked with the children and cops as they shopped.

WPD has done Shop with a Cop for many years, and Taylor said there are officers who do it year after year because they enjoy it so much, himself included.

To donate to Shop with a Cop, visit https://www.hflm.org/give, click “Invest Now!,” and choose the Shop with a Cop fund option.

Originally published November 16, 2022 - https://www.waxahachiesun.com/arts_and_entertainment/shop-with-a-cop-happening-dec-17-donations-appreciated/article_cfed9e36-65f0-11ed-b16f-6b2947610cb1.html