Holiday Cheer Brought To Solon Kids By Shop With A Cop Program

SOLON, OH — Twenty-nine kids got a little holiday cheer on Dec. 9, when officers from the Solon Police Department took them out to buy gifts and meet Santa Claus. It was all part of the department's 15th Shop with a Cop event.

This year, the police departments from FOP Lodge 16 got together and paraded to the Target on Route 82 in Macedonia. Kids got $150 gift cards to go shopping. The kids are brought to the Solon Police Department to start the day. They get to meet their chaperones and spend some time with the officers, all of who are volunteers. Then they get into police cars and SUVs and parade to their shopping destination.

"It’s always a rewarding experience. You get to have a one-on-one with these kids," said Detective Sergeant Jamie Hoffman of Solon Police. Hoffman is the Solon organizer for the event and has been a volunteer for 15 years.

Solon Police were joined by other members of the FOP Lodge during this year's Shop with a Cop event. A seemingly endless number of police vehicles can be seen lined up, one after the other, flashing lights and blaring the alarm.

Check out the parade of police cars below.

The kids, who range in age from kindergarteners to 16-year-olds, bought their presents and then were taken back to the Solon Community Center for a holiday party, sponsored by local company Swagelok. The party featured face painting, crafting, a visit from Santa Claus and more, Hoffman said.

Kids are selected for the program based off recommendations from the Solon Schools. Children are picked for a variety of reasons, Hoffman said. That could include coming from difficult financial circumstances, need a positive encounter with police or more.

The money for the Target gift cards is collected through fundraisers and donations put-on and accepted by Solon officers throughout the year.

Photo from Solon Police