"Merry Christmas" Accomplished for Twenty Families at Shop with a Cop

The holiday season is often busy with shopping for gifts for our loved ones. However, for many in our community, this time brings extra stress about affording gifts for their children.

That’s where the Franconia Township Police Benevolent Association (FTPBA) comes in. This year twenty families participated in the Shop with a Cop program thanks to a generous $14,000 donation from the Souderton-Telford Rotary Club and countless donations from the community.

Each year the officers donate countless hours of volunteer time on their Shop with a Cop program. They fundraise throughout the year and each December use those funds to make sure as many families as possible can shop for gifts and necessities to brighten their holiday.

Franconia Township Police Officer Timothy Boyle expresses his gratitude to the community, "The generosity of the Souderton-Telford Rotary Club and the community at large is truly heartwarming. The people here always come together in times of need, and this is one of the most direct examples.”

The Souderton-Telford Rotary Club raised their $14,000 donation at their recent "Cocktails and Candy Canes" event, featuring a festive evening of fun and philanthropy, with a lively trivia game hosted by FOX 29’s Richard Curtis.

“We are immensely grateful to all the donors and sponsors, who helped us raise as much money as possible,” said Janet Pesini, Souderton-Telford Rotary Club’s co-chair of the event. “Our members, their guests, and event sponsors, which included KJ Doors, Franconia Insurance and Financial Services, Travel Haus, and Care & Share Thrift Shoppes, played a vital role in the success of this event,” said Sarah Bergin, Souderton-Telford Rotary Club’s event co-chair. “We’d like to add a special note of thanks to Univest for covering the cost of loading the gift cards, adding to the ease and enjoyment of the shopping experience, and to Harleysville Walmart for being such gracious shopping hosts.”

Area students gave their time as well, with many members of the Souderton Area High School Interact Club instrumental in ensuring the shopping event ran smoothly, creating an atmosphere of joy and community spirit.

To learn more about the activities of the FTPBA and to support their efforts, visit ftpba.com.

For more information about the Souderton-Telford Rotary Club and their community initiatives, visit souderton-telfordrotary.org.

View more photos from Cocktails and Candy Canes.

View more photos from 2023 FTPBA Shop with a Cop.