O.C.E.A.N., Inc. Community Action Agency in New Jersey kicked-off the 5th Annual O.C.E.A.N., Inc. and Police Athletic Leagues – ‘Shop with a Cop’ events in Ocean, Cape May and Atlantic Counties.
Shop with a Cop is not just about taking the children shopping, it's a fun filled day for a number of kids during the holidays while creating a bond with local police officers. At the event, each child was allotted $150 to shop for a special gift (s) for the holidays.
The ‘Shop with a Cop’ initiative provides opportunities for positive engagement between agencies, youth, and law enforcement. Beginning with O.C.E.A.N., Inc. the initiative has demonstrated the power of partnerships and possibilities. It sponsors children in households who are assigned a law enforcement officer and provides additional family support. The initiative creates an opportunity to build community collaborations and impacts youth through relationship-building to bring change within community policing strategies.
In Ocean County, Officers from the following law enforcement departments participated including: Ocean County Sherriff’s Department, Brick Township, Lakewood Township, Plumsted Police Department, Beachwood Police Department, South Toms River Police Department, Berkeley Township Police Department, Seaside Heights Police Department and the Toms River Township Police Department.
Throughout the shopping spree at Walmart, these police officers were paired with each child, pre-scanned toys and calculated their assigned child’s order to ensure they are within $150 before proceeding to the checkout. It is a very well-coordinated system in order to meet time constraints. Families also enjoyed refreshments prepared by Walmart staff at each 'Shop with a Cop' event. Thank you Walmart.
While shopping, officers, O.C.E.A.N., Inc staff and board members engaged in conversation with each child asking them about current trends and the child’s areas of interest while shopping and selecting their holiday gifts. Once at the register, Tamica Mickle, O.C.E.A.N., Inc. President/CEO also presented them with a $50 Shoprite Gift Card to assist their families with food insecurities.
“This is an event that O.C.E.A.N., Inc. has been providing for over five (5) years that involves law enforcement at the highest level” said Tamica Mickle, O.C.E.A.N., Inc. President/CEO. “The Shop with a Cop Program in Ocean County is funded by O.C.E.A.N., Inc. through the NJDCA Community Services Block Grant. The Program promotes social justice and positive police relationships for families as they gain the skills, knowledge and enhance their ability to engage within the community. Overall, we will serve over 600 children from families throughout the entire region over the next week, said Mickle.”
Stay tuned on the O.C.E.A.N., Inc. Facebook site for more O.C.E.A.N., Inc. ‘Shop with a Cop’ coverage later today in Cape May County and even more footage on Monday, December 9-12, 2024 at the Egg Harbor Township Walmart in Atlantic County. The 'Shop with a Cop' event at the Little Egg Harbor Walmart will be held on December 14, 2024 at 9:30 am to 12:30 pm.
Visit the O.C.E.A.N., Inc. 'Calendar of Events' with updates continuously posted on the following site: https://oceaninc.org/calendar-of-events
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