Shop with a Cop, helping create a special Christmas.

Michigan State Police Trooper Kelsey Case helps her shopper find the perfect gift.

Shop with a Cop, helping create a special Christmas.

#ShopWithACop.

By Rob Alway, Editor-in-Chief.

PERE MARQUETTE TOWNSHIP — The annual Shop with a Cop event took place Tuesday night at the Ludington Walmart. The event partnered 50 local children with police officers representing Ludington Police Department, Michigan State Police, Mason County Sheriff’s Office, Scottville Police Department, and U.S. Coast Guard. The children are selected by school personnel. Ten more children are shopping at Meijer Thursday with local officers.

Mason County Sheriff Sgt. Eric Soneral with his shopper.

“It’s an amazing event to see the heroes in our community come out here and help these children who may not normally have the opportunity to buy Christmas gifts,” said Andrew Lucero, general manager of the Ludington Walmart.

The children receive a $200 gift card that is paid for through donations raised by the Shop with a Cop committee along with donations from Walmart and Meijer. Volunteer high school students from area schools wrapped the children’s gifts and they are all treated with pizza. Ludington High School band members performed Christmas music around the store. Each shopper, and his/her cop get a picture taken with Santa Clause and Nickelson’s Needlefast Evergreens of Amber Township donated a Christmas tree for each child.

This story, photographs, and video are copyrighted © 2017, all rights reserved by Media Group 31, LLC, PO Box 21, Scottville, MI 49454. No portion of this story or images may be reproduced in any way, including print or broadcast, without expressed written consent.