‘Shop With A Cop’ brings holiday joy to keiki in West Hawai‘i

Catholic Charities Hawai‘i, Kona Target and Big Island first responders brought more than 60 West Hawai‘i keiki a little holiday joy the weekend before Christmas during the 2022 “Shop With A Cop” event in Kona.

Sixty-one children were selected for this year’s event at the Target store in Kona. The children were partnered with members of the Hawai‘i Police Department, Hawai‘i Department of Public Safety Deputy Sheriffs, Hawai‘i Department of Land and Natural Resources and National Park Service. Each youth was given a gift card made possible through donations from Catholic Charities Hawai‘i, Target Corp., Paying It Forward, Kiwanis Club, Rotary Club and others.

Police also made keiki ID cards for the children and Target set up gift-wrapping stations and provided breakfast for the first responders and other event volunteers.

This special event brings much needed joy during the holidays while fostering positive relationships between the youth and the officers and other first responders.