Shelby Township police hold annual Shop with a Cop event

SHELBY TOWNSHIP — The Shelby Police Department held its annual Shop with a Cop event to bring some good cheer during the recent holidays.

The event took place on Dec. 5 at Meijer in Shelby Township.

Each year, the Shelby Township Police Department partners with local businesses and organizations to provide the shopping program for local kids in need. Shop with a Cop brings officers and local families together to provide children with an opportunity to pick out gifts.

The kids are paired up with a police officer who takes them around the store, but mostly to the toy department, of course.

Families were able to spend up to $250 and were provided gift cards that were used for things that they needed. This is the biggest event that the Shelby Township Police Department does all year and is a way that the department can give back to the community. The children are chosen based on need and the program works in connection with Utica Community Schools.

Lauren Weiss, the Eisenhower High School resource officer, said this year they were able to provide gifts and food baskets for more than 35 kids from 17 different families.

“Each kid walked around with a Shelby Township police officer and got a chance to pick out different items that they wanted for Christmas. Once they made their selection, they were wrapped by Eisenhower High School’s National Honor Society members. Once the kids were done shopping, they got to meet Santa, play games, make crafts, and eat pizza and cake,” she said.

Once all the gifts were wrapped, the kids were sent home with those gifts along with a stocking filled with goodies and a turkey dinner basket.

The event was sponsored by Issa Tolla, the owner of Shelby Auto Care and Car Aid in Shelby Township, as well as Meijer. The pizza was donated by Rio Dudgeon-Lulati at Jet’s Pizza at 23 Mile and Schoenherr roads.