Twentieth Anniversary of Shop with a Cop – December 14, 2019

Twenty years ago, a group of Hoffman Estates Police Officers started a project to bring gifts and food to families in need during the Holiday Season. Seeing the faces of these children and their families change from despair to joy, the Officers pledged to continue the effort. That was the humble beginning of SHOP WITH A COP.

SHOP WITH A COP has continued to grow each year. For its 20th anniversary in 2019, 80 children will be paired with Officers from Hoffman Estates Police Department, along with Officers from the South Barrington Police Department, Inverness Police Department and the Illinois State Police. Hoffman Estates Fire Department firefighters are also joining in the fun this year!

The children will travel by bus from the Police Station to the Hoffman Estates Target where each child, partnered with an Officer, will shop for gifts for their entire family! This event would not be possible without the support of many Hoffman Estates businesses and volunteers. Target staffers dress as elves, and Target provides discounted gifts and free gift wrap. Hoffman Estates Mayor Bill McLeod, Village Trustees, the Village Clerk and many volunteers staff the wrapping tables; thanks to these volunteers, all gifts are wrapped before the kids take them home.

Shop with a Cop officials and children in Hoffman Estates, December 2019

The Chicago Marriott Northwest opens their ballroom and provides a free hot breakfast for participants to enjoy. Area businesses host activity tables in the Marriott Ballroom where the kids can play, have their faces painted, create a craft project and receive a surprise visit from Santa, who has a specially selected gift for each child! When the kids return to the Police Station, they receive a stocking filled with treats, surprises, books, gifts, and a gift card to ALDI so the family can shop for holiday meals.

Area school district social workers, social service agencies and Police Officers refer the children in need who benefit from the SHOP WITH A COP event. This program not only brings joy and hope to these families, it changes their perception of the Police as people a family can count on in times of need.

Shop with a Cop Event – Saturday, December 14, 2019

8:00 AM – Officers get paired up with the kids and taken to Target, 2800 Sutton Rd, Hoffman Estates
8:30 to 9:30 AM – Officers and kids shop at Target, then get bused to Chicago Marriott NW, 4800 Hoffman Blvd, Hoffman Estates
9:30 to 11:00 AM – Officers and kids enjoy breakfast and various activities
11:00 AM – Group picture and then a visit from Santa
11:30 AM – Officers and kids are taken back to the Police Department

This annual event is only possible through the generous support of businesses, residents, and year-round fundraisers. SHOP WITH A COP is a project of the Hoffman Estates Police Charitable Foundation sponsored by the Hoffman Estates Village Foundation, an IRC approved 501(c)(3) charitable organization. Please contact Police Lt. Carl Baumert at (847) 781-2807 or [email protected] if you are interested in learning more or donating to the Shop with a Cop event.

Shop With a Cop Committee: Carl Baumert, Rick Ouimette, Mark Wondolkowski, Tony Tenuto, Dan Stopka, Phil Giacone, Antonio Garcia, Maral Abrahamian, Linda Scheck, Karen Arnet and Sue Ardizzone.

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Ray Hanania is an award-winning opinion columnist, author & former Chicago City Hall reporter (1977-1992). A veteran who served during the Vietnam War and the recipient of four SPJ Peter Lisagor Awards for column writing, Hanania writes weekly opinion columns on mainstream American & Chicagoland topics for the Southwest News-Herald, Des Plaines Valley News, the Regional News, The Reporter Newspapers, and Suburban Chicagoland.

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