Financial contributions being accepted by Sarasota Housing Funding Corp.
The Sarasota Housing Authority, the Sarasota Police Department, Target, and Sarasota County’s Breeze Transit Department “are partnering to provide 150 underprivileged children with a unique opportunity to literally ‘Shop with a Cop’ for holiday gifts in Sarasota,” the Police Department has announced.
This year, the Sarasota Housing Authority (SHA) will pair youngsters it houses and serves with local law enforcement officers to shop for holiday gifts at the Target store standing at 5350 Fruitville Road in Sarasota, a news release explains. The event will be held Saturday, Dec. 14, from 6 to 8 a.m.
“This special event showcases SHA’s commitment to providing positive, uplifting experiences for our youth, while promoting mutual respect with our Sarasota Police partners,” Sarasota Housing Authority CEO William Russell said in the release. “Many of our kids who have participated in past events reminisce about what a positive experience it was to shop with and get to know SPD officers,” he added.
“Shop with a Cop is one of our favorite community events that we look forward to every year,” said Sarasota Police Chief Rex Troche in the release. “It is moments like this when our officers and civilian employees can build strong relationships with the children in our community,” he pointed out in the release. “We are grateful to be in a position where we can help make the holidays more enjoyable and less stressful for Sarasota families.”
SHA has worked to raise more than $22,000 for this event through its 501(c)(3) affiliate the Sarasota Housing Funding Corp., the release explains. This year’s event also will be made possible through donations from Communities Unified, the Community Foundation of Sarasota County, Target, the First Horizon Foundation and other private donors, the release notes.
Charlie Hugill and Aubrey Robbins, who founded the charity Communities Unified when they were sophomores in high school, said in the release, “We are super excited to be a part of this event for the fourth year in a row. We are so glad our organization is able to donate its time and resources to such a wonderful cause and provide for Shop with a Cop. We are happy to be a part of a program that builds relationships between the community and law enforcement, and we look forward to seeing the children each holiday season.”
Donations provide Target gift cards that officers will use at checkout for each of the 150 children, the release explains.
Those wishing to contribute may make out checks payable to the Sarasota Housing Funding Corporation with “Shop with a Cop” in the memo line, the release adds. Both checks and cash donations may be dropped off at the Sarasota Housing Authority office, which stands at 269 S. Osprey Ave. in Sarasota.
For more information, persons may contact the Sarasota Housing Authority at 941-361-6210, Ext. 221.