CALIFORNIA, MD (Dec. 25,
2007) The Shop With a Cop
program was
held Saturday, December
22nd. 133 children and 102
police officers went
shopping at
the California, Md. Wal-Mart.
Each child was
given a budget of $225.00 to
spend on themselves, however
the majority
of children bought gifts for
their parents, grandparents
and siblings.
Shop With a Cop founder and
Chairman, Joseph Stanalonis
said "This
program grows each year. It
is a testament of how great
a community in
which we live. This is a
gift to us, the volunteers
to be able to give
back to the people we
serve." Stanalonis is
an Assistant States
Attorney in
St. Mary's
County.
The program is conducted by
volunteers of the Optimist
Clubs of
St.
Mary's County. The
money is provided by
corporate sponsors such as
ADF
Bingo, Liberty Home
Builders, The Mechanicsville
Moose Club, SSI inc. and
many community
contributions.
The Fraternal Order of
Police Lodge 7 members are
police officers
from
St. Mary's County
Sheriff's Office, Maryland
State Police, Department
of Natural Resources, Naval
Criminal Investigative
Services, United
States Drug Enforcement
Agency, U.S. Capitol Police,
and the Pentagon
Police Department.
