Team more than 30 local law enforcement officers and 25 fourth and fifth graders in a glittering department store outfitted with the season’s finest decorations and gifts — and put a $100 gift card in each child’s hands — and the ingredients are ripe for a memorable event.
The 15th annual Crime Alert Berks County Shop-with-a-Cop at Boscov’s North on the Fifth Street Highway held Thursday, Dec. 9, which included a visit from Santa Claus who arrived on a Muhlenberg Township Fire Department ladder truck, was a joyful mix of eager children who not only found gifts for their family members, but got a new friend and mentor in the process.
“It provides an opportunity for young people to have a very positive experience with a police officer,” said Rick Periandi, Crime Alert president. “In today’s environment, we at Crime Alert believe much more of this is needed to increase the public’s support for our local and state police.”
The children, selected from Berks public and parochial schools, were each teamed with a local law enforcement officer. Thirty-three officers from the City of Reading and surrounding municipalities became individual shopping consultants — and in many cases augmented the $100 gift cards supplied jointly by Crime Alert Berks and Boscov’s Department Stores with their personal contributions.
Jim Boscov, president and CEO of Boscov’s, said he was especially touched to see the children’s collective determination to select just the right gifts for their siblings, parents, and grandparents.
Crime Alert Board Member Conrad Vanino, assigned by Santa to adopt his persona that night, provided each student with the chance to hear their Christmas wishes. Crime Alert Vice President Chris Nein was again the key organizer of the event, assisted by Jeff Biehl, retired Wyomissing Police Chief.
Volunteers from the United Way of Berks County added to their elf credits by wrapping the gifts the children selected. Marc Goldstein, founder of Blankets of Hope – Berks, gave each child a cozy blanket.
