Howell PD Hosts ‘Shop With A Cop’ For Local Families In Need

HOWELL, NJ - The annual Shop With A Cop event, hosted by the Howell Police Department and Target, was spared from widespread COVID-19 activity cancellations this holiday season. With COVID-19 parameters in place, officers from the police department lead the shopping and wrapping effort themselves to provide gifts for local families in need.

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In years past, select families are identified and provided with a special shopping trip to Target alongside township police officers in December. However, due to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic, this year's initiative was planned with extra safety precautions and social distancing.

“With the help of our Special Class I Officers, and others, [officers] did all of the shopping and wrapping of the gifts for the families themselves,” the Howell Township Police Department wrote in a statement on Tuesday.

The department planned out a route and drove to each house - with Santa Claus in tow, of course - to deliver presents to local children in-person.

“We would like to thank Target for their participation and for the generous donation from Certified Auto," the department continued. "Howell resident Timmy Geraghty, also donated an incredible amount of money to assist in the shipping for the gifts, and also purchased pizzas from Capricci’s for each family. We thank Timmy for such an amazing gesture.”