Pie auction to benefit Shop with a Cop.

Officer Tony Kuster with some of last year’s pies. File Photo.

Pie auction to benefit Shop with a Cop.

#MasonCountyCares

By Rob Alway, Editor-in-Chief.

LUDINGTON — A pie auction being held next week will benefit the annual Shop with a Cop program. The auction takes place on Wednesday, Nov. 23, conveniently the day before Thanksgiving. Officer Tony Kuster of Ludington Police Department coordinates both the auction and the Shop with a Cop event.

Shop with a Cop is an opportunity for children-in-need to buy some Christmas presents for family members. They are helped by a local law enforcement officer during a night of shopping at Wal-Mart in Pere Marquette Township. This year, the shopping date is Dec. 14. The children are referred to the program by their school counselor. In 2015, 53 kids participated in the program.

The program relies on donations from the community, with much of the proceeds coming from the pie auction. “The more money we raise, the more kids we can help,” Kuster said.

Donations have also been received from Meijer, with those funds helping to purchase food for the families.

The auction is from 8 a.m. to 2 p.m. The physical location is at the Stearns Ballroom in the Stearns Hotel. Bidders are welcome to come there and view the pies, Kuster said, but they can also view the pies on Facebook (click here). Bids can be made on Facebook or by calling WMOM radio at 231-845-9666.