Officers from the Duluth Police Department (DPD) lined the aisles of Target on Tuesday for a good cause. The annual Blue Santa Shop with a Cop event partners with several youth organizations around the Twin Ports to help get kids in the store and shopping for their own Christmas gifts or gifts for other people. This year, 28 kids were able to shop with members of the DPD due to donations made by the Irving Community Club.

Officers at the event said that it is a good way to lift spirits around the holidays.

“Not only do our officers come up and help, but we have a lot of civilian staff and some family members that come up to help wrap gifts if the kids want to have some gifts wrapped. Oftentimes these kids not only buy stuff for themselves, but they will go out and they’ll use some of the money that’s been donated to them to buy family members gifts.”

James Forsyth, West Community Officer, Duluth Police Department

Members of the DPD also delivered toys and supplies to Bethany Crisis Center in Morgan Park and two Northwood Children’s Services locations where kids will be spending the holiday.