Shop With A Cop Brings Holiday Joy

Hundreds of toys and gifts for family members were purchased by children during Tuesday night's annual Alpharetta Police Athletic League's Shop with a Cop event at Walmart on Windward Parkway.

Officer Phil Ritchey, PAL coordinator, said the organization receives donations from the community – incuding one from Walmart – to provide each child with $100 to spend on gifts for themselves. Many of the children choose to buy gifts for their parents or siblings also.

"We partner up with North Fulton Community Charities, and they pick families based on those donations," Ritchey said. "This year 70 children were chose, so 70 children will have a Christmas this year."

Ritchey said this was the 14th year for the PAL Shop with a Cop, and he thanked Walmart for again hosting it.

"Walmart is glad to help anytime," said store manager Natosha Smith.

Firefighters and police officers from Alpharetta and Milton participate in the event, taking children through the store's toy department – and even into the clothing and home improvement departments this year – to pick out their gifts.