BETHLEHEM, Pa. — Ten children from Bethlehem-area families were selected to participate in a new “Shop with a Cop” partnership between the Fraternal Order of Police (FOP) Star Lodge 20 and the Hispanic Center Lehigh Valley.
The event, held for the first time with the Hispanic Center, pairs children with Bethlehem police officers for a short shopping trip, giving each child up to $50 to spend on gifts of their choice. Funding for the program comes entirely from the FOP, which raises money through member donations, raffles and other fundraising efforts.
Officer Stephen Ewald (far left), Officer William Rodriguez (center left), Officer Sean Landis (center right) and Officer Paul Ramsden (far right) pose at the Walmart on Route 101 for Shop With a Cop. (Photo by Jai Smith / Lehigh Daily)
“It’s something fun for the community and also fun for the kids,” said Lizzette, who coordinated the program on behalf of the Hispanic Center. She said her team used a simple lottery system to select 10 children after demand far outweighed available spots. “There are so many families who could benefit, but this was the fairest way to do it.”
A young shopper poses with a blue light-up foam sword during the Shop With a Cop event at the Walmart on Route 101. (Photo by Jai Smith / Lehigh Daily)
The FOP has supported similar holiday giving initiatives in past years, but this marks the first official “Shop with a Cop” event run jointly with the Hispanic Center. A planned launch last year was canceled due to a snowstorm.
Detective Stephen Ewald, the FOP’s second vice president, said the union enthusiastically backed the request for support.
“Community relations are very important in law enforcement, and we’re fortunate to have the funds and the officers who are willing to give up their time to do something like this,” Ewald said.
The FOP contributes to several youth-focused efforts throughout the year, including backpack and bicycle giveaways.
Officer William Rodriguez holds a blue light-up foam sword during the Shop With a Cop event at the Walmart on Route 101. (Photo by Jai Smith / Lehigh Daily)
Officer William Rodriguez, who helped lead the effort, said the event offers families not only financial help but a new opportunity to interact with police officers in a positive environment.
“This is just another way the police department can give back to the community,” Rodriguez said. “People can see us in a different way, in a different fashion. It’s fulfilling—for us, for the public and especially for the kids. They’ll never forget this.”
Rodriguez said police departments nationwide run similar programs, often with support from big-box stores or local businesses. In Bethlehem, the FOP stepped forward to fund the initiative directly.
As children paired up with officers to browse store aisles, Rodriguez said he hoped the experience would leave a lasting impression.
“Imagine if you were a kid again and had that opportunity,” he said. “It makes a difference. It makes Christmas a little better for families who really need it.”
The Hispanic Center and FOP said they hope to continue and expand the program in future years.
Isabel Hope is a journalist and website designer based in Bethlehem, PA. She graduated with a degree in journalism from The University of Alabama in 2022, where she served as News Editor of the student newspaper. Isabel has lived in the Lehigh Valley for three years and is passionate about reporting for the communities she now calls home.
Jai Smith is a lifetime Lehigh Valley resident on a mission to empower local underserved communities and inform the public while providing journalists and storytellers a platform to develop the next generation of news media.