McHenry County Police Charities boasts yet another successful year for the ‘Shop with a Cop’ event

MCHENRY COUNTY—Every year before Christmas, a nonprofit organization called the McHenry County Police Charities (MCPC), partners with police officers, deputies, and state troopers from every law enforcement agency in McHenry County to take 200 less fortunate youth between the ages of five and 15 years old, shopping for gifts for themselves and family members.

The event, which took place on Dec. 3 this year, is part of the “Shop with a Cop” (SWAC) program and is made possible through year-round fundraising efforts and donations made to the MCPC. Over $40,000 was spent at this year’s SWAC event for children who come from every school district in McHenry County, according to the MCPC.

Participants are picked up at their residence by a police officer from their jurisdiction and taken to one of three Walmart Supercenters—Harvard, Crystal Lake, and Johnsburg, to shop. The children are given $150 to spend on anything they would like and are also given a coat as well as any winter gear they may need.

After shopping, participants are taken to breakfast with Santa and their officer, while their presents are gift-wrapped by volunteers. This year, children in the program got breakfast catered from either Brunch Café in McHenry, the Crystal Lake Lions Club, or Kelley’s Family Restaurant in Harvard.

“It is the mission of the Shop with a Cop program to ensure each child knows they are deserving of such gifts as well as to develop a positive relationship between local police officers and youngest members of our community,” said the McHenry County Sheriff’s Office on their Facebook page.

Children are selected for the MCPC’s SWAC program by referrals sent from several agencies and programs that represent each community of McHenry County. During the application process, preference is given to those who have never participated in the program.