Jim Thorpe Police Department held its inaugural Shop With a Cop event on Saturday at the Walmart in Lehighton, marking what Police Chief Joe Schatz described as a heartfelt effort to spread holiday cheer to local families in need.

The program, which has been gaining traction nationwide, involved collaboration between the police department, local organizations, and the community.

Six families, selected by the Jim Thorpe Area School District, were invited to participate in the event.

Schatz described the emotional process of contacting the families and explaining the program.

“It was very touching on my behalf to contact these families, let them know what our program was, and what we all did donation-wise,” he said. “It’s great around Christmas to do that. It sort of put a tear in my eye.”

On the day of the event, officers met the families at Walmart to assist with holiday shopping. Sergeant Michelangelo Bokeko, Detective Lee Marzen, Officer John Pruitte, Officer Daniel Long, and Tammy Schatz from the Jim Thorpe Community Watch were among those who participated.

Chief Schatz emphasized the importance of community relations in organizing the program.

“I always jump up on community relations and raise my hand,” he said, explaining the department’s decision to join the initiative after being invited by the Lehighton Police Department.

The generosity of several donors made the event possible. The Jim Thorpe Borough Council, the Jim Thorpe Area School District, and the Peggy Sue O’Donnell Memorial Fund provided financial support. Walmart, the Lehighton Police Department, and the Fairview Hose Company Social Club also contributed, with the social club donating its hall for the event’s after-party.

Following the shopping trip, families gathered at the Fairview Social Hall, where they wrapped their gifts with the help of police officers. The social hall also hosted a festive celebration featuring pizza, refreshments, and stocking stuffers, all of which were donated by various contributors.

“It’s definitely heart-filling for me at Christmas to be involved in such a program and see the results of that,” Schatz said.

A Facebook post from the Jim Thorpe Police Department noted how the experience “touched the hearts of every police officer that helped out and definitely put JTPD in the Christmas spirit.”

Looking ahead, Schatz expressed hope for expanding the program in the coming years, stating, “I think next year we’re going to build on it a little more with some things we spoke about already.”