News
Dundee Police's 10th 'Shop with a Cop' for Needy Kids
2024-12-06
Dundee, Michigan witnessed a truly remarkable event as fourteen kids were each given a $150 gift card to spend on toys at the Walmart in Monroe. This annual tradition, now in its 10th year, began with a delightful spread of pizza and cookies for the kids. Deputy Police Chief Randy Sehl expressed, "It's become one of our favorite nights of the year."
The Impact on Kids and Families
This event not only provides a boost to the kids and their families but also creates a night to remember. The Dundee Community Schools plays a crucial role by helping identify those kids who could truly use some assistance. As Sehl said, "Our school officers work with the administration, teachers and counselors to really identify some kids that could really use some help."This year, fourteen kids left the first part of the night with full bellies. They then had the joy of meeting Santa and his crew, including Mrs. Claus, the Grinch, and Rudolph. Afterward, they took a ride on the Santa Express to Walmart in Monroe, where they each received $150 to get some gifts for under the tree.Colton Gumola, one of the kids, shared, "I got a remote-controlled RC charger, I got a stuffed animal dino, I got Pokemon cards." Others like Wyatt Gumola saved some cash for their families. He bought a toy for his little brother.Each family also received $150 for groceries, ensuring that everyone went home with a smile. David Simpson, Wyatt and Colton's dad, said, "That's awesome, that's going to help us a lot for holidays because of just how stressful and tight it is nowadays with the economy and everything. That's going to go a long ways, so that was a big, welcomed surprise."Simpson further added that his family learned last month that they were selected to shop with the cops. Seeing his kids feel joy filled his heart with happiness. He said, "They’ve (Wyatt and Colton) just been so excited in looking forward to it and tonight was pretty, pretty amazing."The funding for this event comes from the department's Volunteers in Police Service's annual spring golf outing. Additionally, the Oregon, Ohio Clean Energy Corporation and Lake Erie Transit of Monroe also provided support to make this event possible.This "Shop with a Cop" event truly showcases the community's spirit and the positive impact it can have on the lives of children and their families. It is an event that brings smiles and a sense of hope during the holiday season.