“Shop With A Cop” Helps Area Children

Sonora, Ca — 30 children in Tuolumne County received a special holiday gift this past weekend thanks to the “Shop with a Cop” program.

The object of the program, which was the brainchild of Tuolumne County Sheriff´s Deputy Dan Graziose, is to provide $100 cash to as many kids within the community as possible so they can buy themselves something special for Christmas.

The program is funded by donations from local businesses and the Tuolumne County Deputy Sheriff´s Association.

Names of the children who could benefit from this program were funneled to Graziose from agencies such as the Mountain Women´s Resource Center, Child Protective Services and County Schools.

The children selected arrived at Walmart this past Saturday afternoon to shop with their donated $100.

The kids were escorted through the aisles and check-out lines by uniformed officers from the Sheriff´s Department and Sonora Police Department. Among the many taking part included Sheriff Jim Mele and Police Chief Mace McIntosh.

Written by BJ Hansen