BETHLEHEM, Pa. — Ten children from Bethlehem-area families were selected to participate in a new “Shop with a Cop” partnership between the Fraternal Order of Police (FOP) Star Lodge 20 and the Hispanic Center Lehigh Valley.
The event, held for the first time with the Hispanic Center, pairs children with Bethlehem police officers for a short shopping trip, giving each child up to $50 to spend on gifts of their choice. Funding for the program comes entirely from the FOP, which raises money through member donations, raffles and other fundraising efforts.
“It’s something fun for the community and also fun for the kids,” said Lizzette, who coordinated the program on behalf of the Hispanic Center. She said her team used a simple lottery system to select 10 children after demand far outweighed available spots. “There are so many families who could benefit, but this was the fairest way to do it.”
The FOP has supported similar holiday giving initiatives in past years, but this marks the first official “Shop with a Cop” event run jointly with the Hispanic Center. A planned launch last year was canceled due to a snowstorm.
Detective Stephen Ewald, the FOP’s second vice president, said the union enthusiastically backed the request for support…