www.njcopsmagazine.com ■ JANUARY 2015
Atlantic County kids
‘Shop With a Cop’
On Dec. 6, the Egg Harbor Township Police Athletic League
coordinated efforts with law enforcement agencies throughout Atlantic County for the 4th Annual Shop With a Cop, a
one-day event where uniformed police officers and volunteers assist needy children with their holiday shopping, free
of charge to the child and their families.
After donating $111, each officer was assigned a child by
the PAL. The pairs started their day with breakfast with Santa,
and then the kids piled onto busses for a police-escorted
parade to the Wal-Mart in Mays Landing. There, each child
was given a $100 gift card to purchase presents for either
themselves or a family member.
“If the child went over the $100 threshold, Wal-Mart forgave the excess,” explained Cape May/Atlantic County Conference Chairman and Longport Local 363 State Delegate
Christopher Ricciotti. “I also saw officers reach into their own
pockets to make up the difference.”
Organizers of Shop With a Cop, from left, State PBA 8th VicePresident Domenic Cappella, Ricciotti, Ventnor Local 97 President Patrick Hiltner and Ocean City Local 61 State Delegate
Michael Gray.
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