Click here to see pies and to bid until 2 p.m.

By Rob Alway, Editor-in-Chief

LUDINGTON — The annual Shop with a Cop/Shop with a Hero pie auction fundraiser is underway today; 147 pies have been donated. The auction raises money for the annual shopping event that will take place next month at Walmart and Meijer. The 2023 pie auction raised $20,000. Funds are used to make Christmas better for 100 local children and their families.

Shop with a Cop/Shop with a Hero provides kids with a stipend that allows them to go with a police officer, firefighter, military member, or EMT and purchase Christmas gifts for their families, an opportunity many of them do not have. In addition to purchasing gifts, the gifts are typically wrapped by a volunteer and the shoppers are provided with a sandwich from Jimmy John’s. They also have the opportunity to receive a Christmas tree from Nickelson’s Tree Farm of Amber Township.

“This event is always a highlight for our local first responders,” Ludington Police Department School Resources Officer Conor Gallihugh said. “It’s a great event that also has a positive impact on these children as well.”

The program is open to all Mason County children and participating first responders come from agencies throughout the county and neighboring counties. Participating children are chosen by their school districts. Gallihugh emphasized that he does not have input into which children are chosen. Parents and guardians who would like their child to be considered will need to contact the appropriate school personnel.

The program relies on donations from the community. Its biggest fundraiser is the pie auction that is currently taking place until 2 p.m. Bidding takes place on the program’s Facebook page (click here).

The program will also take donations from people who are unable to donate a pie or unable to bid on a pie. Donations can be sent to Ludington Police Department, 400 S. Harrison St., Ludington, MI 49431, note Shop with a Cop in the memo.

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