- April 18, 2024
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Port Orange Public Information Officer Evan Doyle greets families gathered outside Target. Photo by Nichole Osinski
Port Orange police officers line up to greet children at Target. Photo by Nichole Osinski
Sgt. Hannah Green and Angelina Farris. Photo by Nichole Osinski
Port Orange Police Officer Justin Edwards, Gabe Gaytan and Henry Gaytan. Photo by Nichole Osinski
Port Orange Police Officer Michael Reed and Zachary Eckles. Photo by Nichole Osinski
Port Orange Police Officer Kelsie Higham and Khloee Sparks. Photo by Nichole Osinski
Port Orange Police Officer Zachary Burd and Landon Sparks. Photo by Nichole Osinski
Port Orange Police Patrol Captain Scott Brozio and Shaun Gray. Photo by Nichole Osinski
Shamari Slater. Photo by Nichole Osinski
Brandon Evans and Port Orange Police Assistant Chief Bill Proctor. Photo by Nichole Osinski
Landon Sparks gets his presents wrapped. Photo by Nichole Osinski
Landon Sparks gets his presents wrapped. Photo by Nichole Osinski
Port Orange Police Patrol Captain Scott Brozio and Shaun Gray. Photo by Nichole Osinski
It was going to be an exciting morning for the children who were waiting outside the Port Orange Target with their families on Saturday, Dec. 16.
Inside the store, a group of police officers stood in a line, uniforms on, waiting to greet the children who would soon be browsing the aisles for Christmas gifts. This was Shop with a Cop, which provides a way for children to buy Christmas presents for themselves and their loved ones.
At 7 a.m. the Target doors swung open and, after a brief hello from Port Orange Police Public Information Officer Evan Doyle, the group went in to meet the officers. Each child was partnered with a police officer who sat with them for breakfast before grabbing shopping carts and making their way through the store, many in the direction of where the toys could be found.
"This is our third Shop with a Cop," Doyle said. "We partnered with the Elks and Target in order to work with kids in the community and reach out to the young people of Port Orange and try to develop positive relationships with them."
There were 22 children at the event, which provided each child with a $150 gift card the children could spend on themselves or their families. According to Patty Deitering, the store's human resources executive, Target gave a $3,000 grant that was put toward the event to help with the funding.
The police department partnered with Port Orange schools in order for school officials to choose which children would get to be a part of the event.
"We're so excited to have this relationship with both the Port Orange Police Department and the really nice people from the Elks," Deitering said. "We're just so excited to do this each year for these children and our community."
For some children, the shopping trip meant looking for toys, for others it was clothes, for one little boy Shop with a Cop provided a way for him to finally buy picture frames. There was excitement, laughter and smiles, both from the children and the police officers with them.
Elks Member Dick Violette has been participating in Shop with a Cop for three years, right after he joined the Lodge. The annual event has now become a holiday tradition for him.
"I wouldn't miss this if I could possibly get around it," Violette said. "To see the expression on these children's faces is unreal."
As the sun began to light up the Target entryway the red shopping carts started to become full with gifts for the young shoppers and the people they loved. Before long, they began making their way to the cash registers, many stopping for a photo with Santa, before making a final stop at a gift wrapping station overflowing with bows, ribbon and wrapping paper.
It had been a December morning to remember.
"This is what it's all about. This is why we all became police officers — to help people," Doyle said. "We're just trying to come up with new and different ways to help the community. It's a wonderful thing."
