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The Berrien County Sheriff’s Department has once again helped spread holiday cheer with its Shop with a Cop program over the weekend.
Sheriff Chuck Heit tells us reserve deputies and deputies from the department’s mounted division took kids from eight families on a free shopping trip to the Niles Walmart on Saturday. Each child received $225 to shop for Christmas gifts for themselves, their loved ones, and friends.
“We’re very appreciative of the donations that are received to allow us to do that,’ Heit said. “It’s an opportunity to engage in the community. The reserves shop with the students, but also get some groceries at times. So, a lot of times the families are selected and working with local schools, identifying the families, which is a great way to give back to the community. And we’re very appreciative of the donations that we get that allow us to do it.”
In total, 24 kids got to go on the sheriff’s department’s Shop with a Cop trip this year. Heit says they often pick out items not just for themselves, but for their whole families.
A wide range of businesses, churches, and individuals support Shop with a Cop each year.
Heit says the day included lunch from Subway. Each family also received a holiday food basket and an extra gift card.
School resource officers from the sheriff’s department helped to identify the children who were invited to take part.