NBC 10 Philadlephia Coverage

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The 1st Annual Ocean Inc., Middle Township Police Department and Progressive Black Initiative ‘Shop with a Cop’ was held yesterday at the Rio Grande Walmart Store in Cape May County. Ocean Inc. staff, members of the Progressive Black Initiative along with full representation of law enforcement from the Middle Township Police Department helped enrich the lives of 25 children from disadvantaged families who are least likely to experience the gift of giving to someone else or unable to receive gifts themselves due to the families inability to afford them during the holidays. 

Shop with a Cop is an event where uniformed police officers and members of the Progressive Black Initiative assisted needy children with their holiday shopping, free of charge to the child and their families. Throughout the shopping spree, both the officers and a member of the Progressive Black Initiative were paired with each child, pre-scanned and calculated their assigned child’s order to ensure they were within $150 before proceeding to the checkout. 

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. While shopping, officers engaged in conversation with each child while shopping and selecting their holiday gifts. Once at the register, Ocean Inc. presented each child’s family/guardian with a $50 Shoprite Gift Card to assist with food insecurities. 

“This is an event that Ocean Inc. was able to put together that involves law enforcement at the highest level” said Channell Wilkins, Ocean Inc. President/CEO. “The Shop with a Cop Program in Cape May County was funded by Ocean Inc. through the NJDCA Community Services Block Grant.” 

Over the holiday season, Ocean Inc. provided the ‘Shop with a Cop’ Program in three (3) New Jersey counties including Atlantic, Ocean and Cape May promoting social justice and positive police relationships for families as they gain the skills, knowledge and enhance their ability to engage within the community. A special "Thank You” to all community partners and volunteers who assisted in this effort.