Multiple agencies participate in Shop with a Cop
Sparkling lights filled the city last week, as emergency vehicles turned on their lights and sirens to escort children to Walmart for the third annual Shop with a Cop event.
This year’s program was held Thursday, Dec. 15, and Senatobia Police Department was joined by representatives from Senatobia Fire & Rescue, Tate County Sheriff’s Office, Coldwater Police Department and Northwest Mississippi Community College Campus Police. The event aims to provide holiday cheer for children of the community while also building better relationships with law enforcement officials.
The officers, deputies and fire department personnel voluntarily signed up to spend about an hour walking the aisles at Walmart shopping for toys, clothes and other holiday requests. Before shopping, the children were also treated to a special visit with Santa in his workshop located on Ward Street.
Sergeant Angelica Maze with SPD was in charge of organizing this year’s event. According to Maze, the program was able to help 42 children from all over Tate County more than doubling last year’s number of 20 children served by the program.
“I would like to thank each individual as well as each business who sponsored this event. It would be impossible to have this event without your sponsorship. Thank you for helping us give back to the community and making this holiday season so special for us and those who took part in the Shop with a Cop. We really appreciate you,” said Maze.
Because tax dollars cannot go toward events such as Shop with a Cop, the money to provide the cheer must be entirely fundraised. Individual donations and those from businesses went to sponsor the night of fun.This year’s event raised $8,000 compared to last year’s amount of $3,900 to fund the special project.
Senatobia Police Chief Richard Chandler said the event is special to him.
“This is my favorite event of the year,” said Chandler. “To get to help 42 kids and their families through donation say a lot about the community in which we work and live.”
