Police Chief Jeffrey Spaulding of the Westminster Police Department formally opened off the fund-raising drive for the fifth annual Shop with a Cop on Thursday, Nov. 6, at the local Wal-Mart in Westminster.

The colorful angel tree, composed of 325 ornaments representing gifts that families in need wish to have on Christmas, was brightly lit and the angels hung with care at the entrance of the Wal-Mart on Woodward Road.

Every year, customers at Wal-Mart take an angel from the tree, buy the gift requested and put the gift in the Christmas box next to the tree. Monetary donations are also accepted, and go toward gift cards that families can use on the day of the Shop with a Cop event.

Wal-Mart store manager Harry Anusezew said that "It's nice to be able to lend a hand through these tough times."

Anusezew and the Wal-Mart staff got the annual drive going, as they awarded Spaulding and the Westminster Police a $7,000 donation for Shop with a Cop. Anusezew said the donation came not only from the Westminster Wal-Mart, but many of its sister stores as well who pitched in.

The actual Shop with a Cop event will take place Saturday, Dec. 6. Starting at 8:00 a.m., children in need from the community will come into the Wal-Mart, grab a cop to shop with and pick out presents for their family.

Spaulding said that along with the satisfaction of helping the community, the event also "helps the children see police officers as real people."

"It's extremely rewarding to see the look on the children's faces," said Anuszewski.

The effort is not supported solely by Wal-Mart -- in fact more than 90 community business sponsors including Water Doctor and the Carroll County Technology Center, which donated computers to all of the families in the program last year, take part.

Mayor Tom Ferguson of Westminster said, "It gets bigger and better every year."

In fact, this year the Hampstead Wal-Mart is starting its own Shop with a Cop event, and Westminster Wal-Mart gave them a $250 donation to help them get the program up and running.

Police said that because of this program, more than 130 children have been helped in the community. For donations and further information contact Sgt. Keith Benfer at the Westminster Police Department at 410-848-4646.

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