The Wayne Police Benevolent Association (PBA) has been participating in Shop with a Cop since 2016. It started humbly by taking one child on a Christmas shopping spree and grew last year to thirty-eight deserving children. While growing this program, we have partnered with the Wayne Boys and Girls Club, the Wayne PAL, and the Wayne foster community to provide us with children from their programs, who are in need of a special Holiday season.

Each child comes the morning of the event a little apprehensive. They often come from environments where the police don’t have a great light shined upon them or where a bad memory could involve a family member dealing with the police. Each child is then assigned two officers to go on their $200 shopping spree, and that is when the magic happens. After spending thirty to forty-five minutes with “their” officers, the children come to the register with a cart full of items and huge smiles on their faces. The nervousness is replaced with excitement and laughter. Their joy boils over as they show their family all of the items they were able to purchase.

The best part of all of this is the final goodbyes. This is when the children share a hug or a high-five or maybe even a special handshake with “their” officers. In thirty to forty-five minutes, a bond has been formed, and perceptions have changed. This has become our most significant and most fulfilling community outreach program.