On Thursday December 8th the Minneapolis Police Activities League partnered with Target stores to host the annual Shop With A Cop event at the East Lake Street Target store. Police officers and community mentors were partnered with inner city youth who were in search of holiday gifts for their families. More than 30 youth were able to participate in the event thanks to a grant that was provided by Target.

Shop With A Cop offers an opportunity for police officers and community mentors to provide some holiday cheer to youth. This year the event was attended by the Police Commander of the Third precinct, Inspector Lucy Gerold. We were also joined by the Chief of Police from the University of Minnesota, Chief Greg Hestness. Chief Hestness has been a PAL board member for more than ten years. Chief  Hestness also brought along two of his University of Minnesota police officers, Long Xiong and Kong Moua.

Several officers expressed that Shop with a Cop is a PAL event that they make sure to volunteer for every year.

Target provided a very welcoming shopping experience for the kids. In addition to giving the PAL kids full range of the store during regular store hours at the busiest time of the year, Target employees staff a gift wrapping station.  Target also provided gift bags and snacks while they waited for Target volunteers to wrap each gift.  Target also introduced a new feature this year by providing a supply of gift bags for PAL youth that could not participate in the Show With A Cop event.

Special thanks to the Target manager who helped to coordinate the event, Paul Matthews.

See photos of the event in our gallery.