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The Johnson City Police Department is excited to announce the 10th annual Shop with a Cop program will be held Wednesday, Dec.11. A partnership between JCPD and Johnson City Schools, Shop with a Cop pairs law enforcement officers with elementary school children in need.

The night begins with dinner at Wild Wing Café followed by a tour of Candy Land Christmas in Founders Park. Children will then travel by bus to Walmart, where each participant, assisted by their law enforcement partner, will shop for holiday gifts.

“Shop with a Cop is an event that our officers look forward to every year,” said Chief Billy Church. “It is an opportunity for the Department to build positive relationships with children and their families, showing the community that we are here to support and uplift one another.”

Applications for this year’s program will be accepted from Oct. 14-Nov. 15. Applications can be downloaded from the City’s website, https://www.johnsoncitytn.org/services/police/programs/shop_with_a_cop.php , and will be available for pick-up at the Records Office, 601 E. Main St. Completed applications will be accepted in the following ways:

• Mail or hand deliver to: Johnson City Police Department, 601 E. Main St, Johnson City, TN 37601 ATTN: Shop With a Cop
• Email: swac@johnsoncitytn.org subject line: Shop with a Cop

The Shop with a Cop program selects elementary-aged children to participate but serves the child’s entire family. Each child in the household receives presents to unwrap and winter clothing while the family receives a Christmas food box.

“Donors are the heart of this program,” said Church. “Their kindness brings happiness to children and their families, offering support during a time that can be challenging for families in need.”

If you would like to be a donor, financial contributions are tax-deductible and accepted in the form of checks made out to City of Johnson City with ‘Shop with a Cop’ in the memo line. Donations can be mailed or hand-delivered to the Police Department, 601 E. Main St, Johnson City, TN 37601 ATTN: Shop with a Cop. Those wishing to purchase specific items for Shop with a Cop participants are encouraged to use our Walmart, Target, or Amazon gift registries below.

-Walmart: https://www.walmart.com/registry/ER/7f2c06bb-2e1b-47c4-a9c6-708850c39fd1

     -Target: https://www.target.com/gift-registry/gift/jc-swac

-Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/registries/gl/guest-view/3TFP8SRZFVPCR

This year, there’s a new way to contribute to the program at no cost. In partnership with Kroger Community Rewards, a portion of all grocery sales with a linked Kroger Savings Card account will go to JCPD’s Shop with a Cop. To link your Kroger Savings Card, sign into your Kroger account, under account settings select ‘Community Rewards.’ Select our program by name (Shop with a Cop – Johnson City Police) or by number (PH158).