Santa Cops Take 'At Risk' Children Shopping In Prince William

WOODBRIDGE, VA — The Fraternal Order of Police is kicking off its annual Santa Cops charity event Saturday, Dec. 7 at the Potomac Mills Walmart on Worth Avenue in Woodbridge starting at 7 a.m. Police officers are donating their time to take "at risk" children Christmas shopping in hopes of making the kids' Christmas special. The children are then escorted in cruisers in a convoy of lights and sirens to breakfast and gift wrapping provided by the Woodbridge Outback Steakhouse.

A second Santa Cops event, also organized by the Fraternal Order of Police Battlefield Lodge 43 in Woodbridge, will take place on Saturday Dec. 14 at the Super Walmart at Manassas Mall in Manassas starting at 7:15 a.m. Breakfast at the Manassas event will be provided by the Park West Lion's Club. The Prince William County Police Department said it will be joining the FOP Battlefield Lodge 43 at both charity events.

"Our mission is to promote a positive law enforcement image with these children," the FOP Battlefield Lodge 43 said in a statement. "Children need to experience officers as caring people who are willing to provide positive support. In supporting this project, we hope that we can make a real difference to the lives of vulnerable young people."

For the Woodbridge charity event on Dec. 7, uniformed law enforcement officers from the Prince William County Police Department, Prince William Adult Detention Center, Prince William County Sheriff's Office, Virginia State Police and GMU Police will donate their time to take more than 50 "at risk" children, ranging in age from 5 to 10, Christmas shopping.

At the Manassas event on Dec. 14, uniformed officers from the Prince William County Police, Prince William Adult Detention Center, Prince William County Sheriff's Office, Manassas City Police, Manassas Park Police, Haymarket Police, GMU Police and Virginia State Police also will take more than 50 "at risk" children, ranging in age from 5 to 10, Christmas shopping. The children will be escorted in cruisers in a convoy of lights and sirens to breakfast donated by the Park West Lion's Club.

For the Manassas event, the children are selected by Prince William County, Manassas City and Manassas Park Schools. They come from all walks of life and differing circumstances, but all are faced with financial limitations in their homes, according to the police union.

All funds for the program are donated by local businesses and residents of Prince William County. All donations are tax-deductible through the Battlefield Lodge 43 Charitable Foundation Inc., a 501(c)(3) organization. Donations can be mailed to the Battlefield Charitable Foundation Inc., P.O. Box 195, Woodbridge, VA 22194 or made in person at either one of the events.