Maple Grove Police, Community Help Kids in 'Shop with a Cop'

Last week, the Maple Grove Police Department hosted its annual "Shop with a Cop" event. In total, 32 students from Maple Grove area schools along with 33 Maple Grove police officers and police support staff went Christmas shopping with the students at the local Walmart store.

Each child was given funds to buy gifts for members of their families along with having the option to purchase something for themselves. After shopping, police hosted a pizza party at the Maple Grove Community Center where children had time to wrap presents, visit with officers, and eat dinner before going home, according to a news release.

Pizza was provided by Angeno’s Pizza in Maple Grove and Starbucks furnished the coffee and hot cocoa. First Student Bus Company transported all of the children and officers to and from the community center and Walmart.

The Maple Grove Police Department thanked Walmart, First Student Bus Company, Starbucks, Angeno’s Pizza and the teachers and counselors that worked with us to help make the event possible.

"Our officers and staff thoroughly enjoy this unique event which gives us the opportunity to build positive relationships with students within our own community," Maple Grove police said on Facebook. "Each child also received a tied fleece blanket, a teddy-bear which was supplied by Go! Calendar Games and Toys and Kay Jewelers, and a 2016 Shop with a Cop Christmas Tree ornament."

Image via Maple Grove Police Department