Shop with a Cop Event to be Modified Due to COVID Concerns

The 2020 decades-long tradition of Shop with a Cop event has been... modified, not cancelled, but it will have to be different this year due to COVID-19.

The Texarkana Texas Police department has notified us that due to the ever-increasing concern about COVID, they have made the decision to cancel the in-person shopping event on December 1.

TTPD spokesman, Shawn Vaughn, went on to say;

However, we will still provide the children with a SWACAF experience as we’ve done for over two decades. Instead of children’s shopping with an officer or firefighter together, we will actually shop for the children alone. DHS caseworkers will ask each of the 100 kids to provide us with a wish list for gifts they would like for Christmas. We will purchase the gifts from the child’s list and will then have a drive-thru pick up event at the DHS offices on Summerhill Road on December 12 (9a-12p).

COVID has made us completely reimagine this year’s event several times. We recognize that we are not only providing a Christmas for some very special children who might not otherwise have one, but we have a responsibility to do it as safely as possible. It’s been a real challenge this year, but I’m very proud of our board’s determination and efforts to make sure it happens.