FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
IT’S TIME FOR THE 25th ANNIVERSARY EDITION OF SHOP WITH A
COP
Santa says “It’s
nearly time for the annual "Wellsville Shop With A Cop!" For 25 years in a row, Riverwalk Property
Management and the Wellsville Kmart will again welcome underprivileged
youngsters for a morning of Christmas shopping that they might not otherwise
experience.
The program gives each child breakfast with Santa, a wrapped
gift for themselves and cash to shop for gifts for their family members. The bonus is that police officers are on hand
to serve as guides and helpers for the tiny shoppers.
In past years volunteers from the Wellsville Village Police,
Allegany County Sheriff's Department, New York State Police, Andover Village
Police, Bolivar Village Police, Alfred Police Department, Belmont Village
Police, Cuba Police Department, Alfred University Public Safety Department,
Angelica Police Department and several other departments have participated.
Some departments and officers have not missed a single Shop With A Cop event in 25 years!
With the involvement of the various police agencies, this
shopping trip takes on a whole different character. The children, some afraid of the police, have
a chance to adopt their "very own
cop" and have him or her help them shop.
You can see and feel the bonding as the morning progresses. The officers
always look forward to this special morning and enjoy it as much as the kids
do. Once chosen and paid for, the gifts are wrapped in colorful Christmas paper
by community volunteers, such as Alfred Martial Arts. Then comes the final good bye from Santa and
maybe a hug from a new friend in a police uniform. Soon it's back home with memories that will
carry over all holiday season.
The cost for this
program has always been funded by donations from various groups and many
generous individuals. The Department of Social Services has also helped
tremendously with candidate selection. Through community support, in 2016, nearly 100 children participated in
this program. It costs $40.00 to sponsor a child, and interested parties can
deliver their donation to the Kmart Service Desk by December 7. Those with questions about the program may
contact Linda Bierman at the Wellsville Kmart or Steve Havey at the Greater
Allegany County Chamber of Commerce. The Kmart phone number is 585-593-0030,
and the Chamber is 585-268-5500.
