FOP donates $1,000 to Shop-With-A-Cop

The Williamsburg Police Department Shop with a Cop program got a generous donation Tuesday morning from an area law enforcement group.

Whitley-McCreary Fraternal Order of Police (F.O.P.) Lodge 61 President Paul Winchester presented the department with a $1,000 donation on behalf of the lodge Tuesday morning for the Shop with a Cop program.

“We couldn’t think of a whole lot better things to do with our money, especially at Christmas time, than to help some children have a Christmas that otherwise wouldn’t,” Winchester said.

Williamsburg Police Department Public Affairs Officer Shawn Jackson said police plan to take 150 needy children on a shopping spree of at least $100 per person as part of the program.

“We are looking right off the bat at raising at least $15,000,” Jackson said. “It just wouldn’t be possible without the help of good organizations around the area, such as the FOP.

“Once again they are giving back to the community, which is just a fabulous thing. It is just one of the many great things that the FOP does.”
The Shop with a Cop program will take place Dec. 17 at the Williamsburg Walmart. The event starts at 5 p.m.
Jackson said two raffle drawings would also be held that night.

One raffle will be for an 80 gigabyte I-Pod classic that is valued at over $200. The other raffle is for a Dewalt tool set, which is valued about $800.

Tickets for the tool set raffle can be purchased at W.D. Bryant for $1 a piece, or six tickets for $5.
Tickets for the I-Pod can be purchased at the Williamsburg Police Department for $1 each.
“You don’t have to be present to win,” Jackson added.

Proceeds from the raffles go to the Shop with a Cop program.

Anyone wanting to donate to the program or needing more information about the raffles can contact Jackson at 549-6017.

“We encourage everyone to come out on the 17th and participate,” Jackson said. “If you come out and just see the smiles on the kids faces, that’s enough to make my Christmas in itself.”