A nationwide program is making its way to Stuart this year.

Stuart Police Officer Katie Guisinger says that the department will be doing the Shop with a Cop program. It’s something that police departments do every year in preparation for the holidays, and each department may handle the program differently. Law enforcement offices take children from the local community and go Christmas shopping. Guisinger tells Raccoon Valley Radio the plan for Stuart’s first year doing this.

“With our partnership also with West Central Valley School District, they’ll be helping me with providing transportation for these students. That’s a big part of the program too, is we don’t want to put more weight on any family’s shoulders. So we’ll be transporting these kids with us to Target in West Des Moines at the Mills Civic (Parkway) area. And afterwards we’ll be heading out to lunch at Pizza Ranch in Waukee, and then we’ll be coming back to the Stuart Fire Station, and they’ll be getting to wrap presents and just have some treats, and just get everything they’ve gotten that day ready to go home to their family.”

Guisinger says that the department will be taking 10-12 children since this is their first year, but that those children will be able to buy gifts for everyone living in their household. This year’s Shop with a Cop will take place on Saturday, December 10th.