Police, kids talk toys during Hempfield Shop With a Cop event

Five-year-old Harmony Derry took a running start and headed straight for the toy aisle Monday at the Hempfield Walmart.

Capt. Jen Shipley with the Westmoreland County Sheriff Department was close behind her, pushing a cart that quickly filled with dolls, toys and a small kitchen set. Shipley personally signed up Harmony and her three siblings for the Westmoreland County Shop With a Cop event.

“This is something that’s so different from our everyday schedules at work,” Shipley said. “That’s why we’re all so excited to be here.”

The Shop With a Cop nonprofit, started by Trooper Steve Limani more than 10 years ago, helps local children who were involved in a crime or other unfortunate circumstance throughout the year with a holiday shopping experience. Children can be picked to participate by police officers, counselors, teachers or community members.

After fundraising all year for the annual event, each participating child is allotted $150 to spend and given free rein to buy whatever they want. Walmart typically donates a winter coat and other items, Limani said.

On Monday morning, cars filled the designated parking spots outside the store, and officers asked parents to wait in their vehicles while children were paired with cops for the shopping spree. Once the pairs had a cart, the purchasing commenced.

Some Walmart shoppers not related to the event joined in the fun by helping children reach toys on higher shelves and talking to them about the holidays. The aisles were filled with excited children and officers.

“It’s not even about the gifts,” Limani said. “It’s about everyone smiling and being happy to be here.”

When each child had reached their spending limit, officers asked if they had some winter clothes at home. If the child replied no, they were able to pick out a coat, gloves and hat of their own.

Limani collaborates with Walmart each year to host the event, which he described as “organized chaos.”

“This day, the shopping day, is the good kind of chaos,” Limani said. “The hardest part of all of this is to raise the money. We usually host a few fundraisers over the course of the year. One is our gun bash, and this coming year we are going to do a gala at the Greensburg Country Club.”

The organization also hosts an annual golf outing at Champion Lakes and an ugly sweater party. Members started a yard sign campaign during covid restrictions so donors could sponsor a child.

“What’s really exciting is that year after year we see the same troopers’ faces coming back into the store, and we start to get to know them,” said Hempfield Walmart manager Carol Williams. “It’s so nice to watch them shop with the kids and the fact that they want to come back and do it every year. It’s amazing.”

Limani emphasized that Shop With a Cop also provides a positive experience between police officers and children.

“We’re different in the way that we physically take the kids shopping,” Limani said. “We talk to them and get to know them. Everyone has a smile on their face. I believe in giving back, and I’m lucky because I have coworkers that believe in giving back, too.”