Warsaw Police took their Christmas spirit and 12 underprivileged children to Meijer for their second “Shopping with Heroes” event Thursday. The selected children received a complimentary meal from Burger King and then took off in police cars toward Meijer to begin their Christmas shopping. Cpl. Doug Light said this event is a positive and beneficial experience for the children. “There’s just a lot of families out there, that for whatever reason don’t have the means to provide gifts for their children,” Light said. “It gives us an opportunity to share a positive experience with a child.” Light said this event also helps give the children a different perception of police officers. “This lets them know police officers are good men and women and we’re here to help and that’s what is nice,” Light said. “It’s nice to put a smile on their face and let them shop to get things they want, it’s a fun night.” Light said including dinner was new this year. Quality Dining Marketing Representative Stacy Stopczynski said this event is similar to the one held in Mishawaka and they wanted to do everything possible to help. “Donating a nice meal to these kids is something we feel is very important,” Stopczynski said. “It’s important for them to understand the magic in Christmas, it’s about giving.” Many of the parents attended the event with their children. Blanca Victoriano joined her two sons, ages 6 and 7, while they hunted for the perfect jeans and remote-control cars. She is currently not working and her husband is only working part-time. She said she was very happy to be a part of “Shopping with Heroes.” “I’m really excited and I just want to run everywhere,” Victoriano said. She also enjoyed watching the police officers chase the kids and follow right behind them as they searched for the gifts they wanted. “They’re not their kids and (the officers) are watching them, it’s so funny,” Victoriano said.
