Three groups come together for ‘Shop With a Cop’

PRINCETON, W.Va. (WVVA) - The Mercer County Sheriff’s Department, Princeton Police Department and Mercer County Starting Points Family Resource Center are giving back this holiday season. Princeton’s Shop With a Cop originated as a Christmas Tree Angel event. Funding declined over the years and this event changed with the times and became what it is today.

“The kids get these little sheets where they can put down ideas of what they want and also the teachers and parents can put down ideas of what they need as well. So we go shopping here at the Walmart then we package up the stuff and give it to the parents so that the parents can give it to the kids.” said Sergeant Matthew Horn with the Mercer County Sheriff’s Department.

Forty-three children will benefit from the generosity of the program, with each child budgeted for around one hundred dollars. The groups raised around $4,300 collectively for the children. Some shoppers explained the importance of this mission.

“Without organizations like starting points and child protect they wouldn’t have a Christmas or very much of one. So the fact that we can partner with the Sheriff’s Office and starting points to give these kids just a little cheer for the holiday season. It’s really nice, something that they might not get otherwise.” said Sergeant Evan Nunn with the Princeton Police Department.

“It’s important, it’s nice to give back to the kids and families in our communities. It’s also nice to take that stress away from parents during this time.” said Stephanie Lacy with Starting Points Family Resource Center.

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