Shop with a Cop Event in Smyrna, GA

Every December, Ed Voyles Kia of Smyrna partners with Marietta City Schools and the Marietta Police Department for their annual Shop With a Cop event. This year, 60 local students joined the officers at the Walmart Supercenter to shop for gifts and necessities for themselves and their families. We’re proud to be able to sponsor this amazing event each year, and are thrilled that so many students in need can have a holiday season that is a little bit brighter with the help of their community.

Community Connections for Marietta Students and Officers

The event was organized by Lt. Gretchen Ingram, the head of the police department’s community outreach unit. Each student was able to partner with a local officer, student resource officer, or volunteer to explore the Walmart and find gifts for themselves and others. Fostering these positive connections between students, officers, and their community is the heart of the Shop With a Cop Event. Some of the students were nervous at first while meeting the officers, but once they saw how friendly and helpful everyone was, they were able to make friends and enjoy shopping for their families together.

Holiday Gifts for Students and Their Families

Each student had $250 to spend on gifts for themselves and others, and our hearts were warmed to see that many chose to shop for siblings and parents first. These kind children helped to bring Christmas cheer to their whole family this season, buying toys, clothes, and more for themselves and others. Parents were encouraged to provide shopping lists for the students and officers to help guide the shopping spree, and some officers even chipped in with their own funds when students went over budget.

A Visit With Santa

Once students had finished shopping, a collection of volunteers took the time to wrap the gifts for each student, giving them and their families a whole collection of surprises. While they were waiting for gifts to be wrapped, the children had an opportunity to visit with Santa. There’s nothing like a chat with jolly ole’ Saint Nick to get the kids excited for Christmas. There were also plenty of coloring activities to do before taking the bus back to school.

An Important Annual Holiday Tradition

The Shop With a Cop event has been a regular annual tradition in Marietta for over ten years now, and we’re glad that we could help it happen again this year. The event is funded entirely by donations from local businesses like Ed Voyles, so it’s important to us that we partner with it every year. We’re so thrilled that so many children were able to experience Shop With a Cop this year, and we look forward to helping the event continue to be a success for years to come.