Gastonia Police plan to take children Christmas shopping

The Gastonia Police Foundation is seeking monetary donations for gift cards that will be given to children for holiday shopping, according to the police department.

The gift cards will be part of Shop with a Cop, an annual event in which police take children from the Boys and Girls Club of Greater Gaston shopping. Children can choose how to spend the money they are given, Police spokesman Rick Goodale said. 

"It's their money to do whatever they want with it," he said. 

The police department also is selling Christmas ornaments to help with the event. Ornaments are $20 and can be purchased at police headquarters on E Long Ave., but the police department can arrange shipping for those who do not live locally.

Proceeds from the sale of the ornaments support the Shop with a Cop event.

This year is the first time since the pandemic began that police will be going shopping in person with children, Goodale said. 

Donations to the Gastonia Police Foundation can be made online at gastoniapolicefoundation.org or via checks made payable to The Gastonia Police Foundation, Inc. P.O. Box 336, Gastonia, NC, 28053.