NEW PHILADELPHIA (WJER) - Police officers are getting the word out now about their annual program that allows them to play Santa Claus and interact with kids in a different light. 

FOP Tuscora Lodge # 4 President Bob Everett says their 10th-annual Christmas With a Cop event will be Saturday, December 14th at the New Philadelphia Elks. Everett says they provide food and gifts to about 50 kids in all and their families, who have been identified by area teachers as students that could benefit the most from this program.

“We have the belief that teachers know the students probably better than us, obviously, and it takes any form of prejudice out of it, any form or even a hint of prejudice out of it,” he says.

Everett says the program chair, New Philadelphia Police Officer Chad Dorsey, will then call each nominated family to make sure they want to participate.

“Then, he will obtain the needs first for every child in the family up to the age of 18, and after the needs are obtained, he will then get the desires or almost like a wish-list of items that they would want for Christmas,” he says.

Everett says they try to spend about $100 to $125 per child. Donations are now being accepted at area police stations, or they can be mailed to FOP Tuscora 4, PO Box 2, Dover, OH 44622.

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