Dowagiac Department of Public Safety (Police and Fire Departments), Dowagiac Pamida and Dowagiac Veterans of Foreign Wars (VFW) Post 1855 teamed up to sponsor 12 families for the Shop with a Cop/Fire Fighter/Veteran program this year.

Volunteers from the organizations helped the children select special gifts for their family members at Pamida on Saturday, Dec. 19.

Employees from Pamida and Cass County courts helped the children wrap the gifts at a festive wrapping station set up at the store specifically for this purpose.

The morning wrapped up with a pizza lunch at the VFW.

Plans for this annual program begin months prior to the actual shopping event.

Pamida and the Dowagiac VFW each donated $1,000 toward the event.

Additional funds for Shop with A Cop/Fire Fighter/Veteran and local food basket programs were raised with the Pulled Pork Dinner held on Dec. 17.

The ability to make some community families’ Christmas holiday a little brighter is only possible through this collaboration and the generous support of the community.

A special thank you to all who helped make this program a success.