BY MICHELLE KEY
PUBLISHER
OPELIKA — The Opelika Police Department wrapped up its third annual Shop With a Cop event by taking dozens of local students on a special holiday shopping experience last week.
This year’s event served 59 students from Opelika City Schools in grades three through 10. Each child was paired one-on-one with an Opelika Police Department officer or staff member for a shopping trip at Target in Opelika, where students selected needed items as well as gifts for themselves and their families.
The Shop With a Cop program is funded entirely through donations from local businesses, organizations and individuals. Organizers said the 2025 event would not have been possible without the generous support of numerous community partners, including Target, Golden State Foods, the Opelika Housing Authority, Stone Martin Builders, The Observer, Sensigreen, MidSouth Bank, Reynolds Outdoors, Culinary Creations, MAX Credit Union, Southeastern Hospice, Royal Kutz Barber Shop, Destination Divas, the Lee County Sheriff’s Foundation, Dallas and Erika Healey, Twin City Lodge, Tractor Supply, BioSweep, Jeffcoat-Trant Funeral Home, OCV LLC, Ballard Pest Management, LifeGate Church, Southern Lawns, Crumbl Cookies, Publix, Home Depot, LeadsOnline, Flipper Marketing and Stiles Dentistry.
Additional support came through fundraisers hosted by Whistle Stop Bottle and Brew, The Fired Fox and John Emerald Distillery.
In addition to the shopping spree, each student received a bag filled with essential hygiene items, generously provided by Created With Purpose and The Fired Fox.
Organizers also expressed appreciation to the volunteers who helped ensure the event ran smoothly and assisted with wrapping gifts, noting that their time and dedication helped make the experience memorable for every child involved.
The Shop With a Cop event continues to strengthen relationships between local law enforcement and the community while providing meaningful support to families during the holiday season.
