This year in December 2022, the Lovejoy Police Department’s Annual "Shop With A Cop" program will provide students whose families are having financial issues during the holidays. Ten students from the age range of 6 to 15 years old, who are residents of Lovejoy, GA, are selected for this program. The student and their parents are invited to Lovejoy City Hall for a meet and greet over lunch as the Officers discuss the program. Also during this meet and greet, the children are provided with Police Department giveaway bags. Students who are chosen to participate receive a $100.00 Wal-Mart gift card to be used on the day of the event. Police officers ride over to Walmart in the van with the children to engage in positive interaction and discussion. There, with the help of their parents and Police Officer escorts, the students shop for themselves.
Children who are selected to participate in a shopping trip is based on the following criteria:
- financial need,
- staying in school,
- avoiding fighting & bullying,
- avoiding a gang or criminal lifestyle.
The “Shop With A Cop” program reinforces the ideas of sharing and giving and promotes the idea that role models of all ages are crucial to the development of our youth. The positive one-on-one experience each student will get from “Shop With A Cop” is one that is never forgotten.
