Kids get to “Shop with a Cop”

To Protect and To Serve, and now it seems shopping, it’s called “Shop with a Cop.”

Various U.P. law enforcement agencies along with the Marquette County Department of Human Services joined forces five years ago to make sure U.P. kids in need got a Christmas to remember.

Rudolph and his team were replaced by city and county law enforcement agencies along with the United States Coast Guard and Department of Natural Resources.

And, off to the store they went.  The mission for the day: shopping.

More than sixty foster children got to “Shop with a Cop”.

“These kids all create a list for their families, they shop for their families, it’s all about giving,” Rosemary Smith with Child and Family Services of the U.P. said.  “It’s not about what is Santa going to bring me, it’s really a beautiful thing.  You can see them shopping today at Walmart, it’s just….it brings tears to my eyes, it’s wonderful, it’s wonderful.”

“I’ve been a youth services officer for five years and I like kids and this is a good event,” Craig Marker, an officer with the Youth Services Division in the Marquette City Police Department.  “They get to see us in a positive light, instead of seeing us in a negative.  There are a lot of negative things on TV, so it’s a good experience for them to see us doing something positive.”

The day would not be complete without a visit from Santa.

Forty-eight different organizations and companies donated either time, money, or services.

The following law enforcement agencies contributed to “Shop with a Cop”: Checker Transport, Marquette City Police Department, Marquette County Sheriff’s Department, Michigan State Police, MDOC, the Forsyth Township, Negaunee, Ishpeming, Ishpeming Township, and Chocolay Township Police Departments, NMU Public Safety, U.S. Coast Guard, Michigan DNR.

Sponsors of the event include: Baby Cakes, Marquette County Department of Human Services, Marquette West Rotary, Michigan Sheriff’s Association, Lundin Mining-Eagle Mine, Employee Benefits Agency, Closner Construction, Bell Roofing Company, Frei Chevrolet, B&G Heating and Plumbing, U.P. Catholic Credit Union, Trudell Plumbing and Heating, Rise Above Tutoring, Public Service Garage, ReBlossom, Jon’s Auto, Casa Calabria, SIR Federal Credit Union, UPHP, Canale-Tonella Funeral Home, U.P. Rehab, Vast, Roubekas Enterprises (Kentucky Fried Chicken), Northern Michigan Bank and Trust, Fabco, Gordon Food Service, American Legion Junior Auxiliary, Walmart Foundation.