Shop with a Cop SV fosters continued mutual respect between law enforcement and the communities they serve.
Through engendering trust in the community and humanizing the person behind the badge, children see police officers through a positive lens. Shop with a Cop of Silicon Valley (SWACSV) is an all volunteer, charitable foundation designed to give less fortunate children from our community an opportunity to experience the holiday spirit.
05/01/2026
Día del Niño at Santee Elementary 🎉📚
What a special Read Aloud at Santee Elementary. Students spent the day reading, taking swings at a piñata, and connecting with local officers.
Día del Niño is all about honoring children, and we’re grateful to create spaces where they feel supported, encouraged, and celebrated.
Thank you to our sponsor, Comerica Bank!
03/25/2026
Reading Doesn’t Stop After the Holidays! 📚
Shop With a Cop is keeping the momentum going with our Spring Reading Challenge for 3rd graders from our partner schools. Over 8 weeks, students are working toward at least 3 months of reading growth — a big goal, but we know they can do it!
Those who reach the goal will be recognized at an Awards Assembly in April with a “gold” reading medal, a special surprise, and a pizza party for all participants. Uniformed officers will be there to celebrate every student’s accomplishment and cheer on their progress. 💙
Reading is more than a skill — it’s a path to confidence, opportunity, and lifelong learning. Let’s keep up the good work! ✨
03/13/2026
Big News for Destinee! Drumroll please... 🥁
We are thrilled to share that the Mercury News Wishbook Fund raised $22,716 for Destinee’s college education — surpassing our original goal of $15,000!
We shared the news with Destinee and her family over Zoom, and her reaction was priceless — overwhelmed with joy and relief knowing she can focus on her education without worrying about how to pay for college.
A huge thank you to everyone who made this possible and believed in Destinee’s future. Your generosity is changing lives.
Photography by Nhat V. Meyer
Check out Destinee's The Mercury News article: https://wishbook.mercurynews.com/2025-shop-with-a-cop/
03/08/2026
Black History Month at Santee Elementary 📚
For this year’s Read Aloud, we distributed 385 books to 4th, 5th, and 6th grade students. The featured titles were written by African American authors in honor of Black History Month, along with financial literacy books to help students build strong foundations for the future.
Thank you to Comerica Bank for sponsoring this event and supporting the importance of financial education alongside literacy.
And to top it off — the entire school was treated to pizza… and yes, it was a huge hit! 🍕
A meaningful day of reading, learning, and celebrating together.
02/25/2026
Our annual Shop With a Cop Holiday Shopping Spree is more than a single day — it’s an extension of our mission.
Through Readers Are Leaders and our community-based programs, we work to create positive relationships, strengthen trust, and support students at pivotal moments in their development. The Shopping Spree brings that mission to life — pairing students with local officers for meaningful connection, encouragement, and shared experience.
Every child participates. Every child is valued.
When we invest in children, we invest in the future of our community. 💛
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Photographers: Brian Lee Film & Selina Pan Photography
✨ 2025 Shop With a Cop Holiday Shopping Spree ✨
One of the most special days of our year!
Students from our Readers Are Leaders program were paired with local officers for a morning of connection, laughter, and holiday shopping. What starts as nervous introductions quickly turns into shared smiles, high-fives, and carts filled with carefully chosen gifts.
This day is about more than shopping. It’s about building trust, strengthening community relationships, and making sure every child feels seen and supported.
We’re so grateful to the officers, volunteers, sponsors, individual donors and families who make this day possible year after year.
Thank you for helping us create moments the children will never forget. 💛
From
Our brothers and sisters at the Sheriff’s Office. Thank you.
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12/09/2025
Behind the Scenes: Why We Start With Breakfast
We didn’t always do breakfast before the Shopping Spree. In the early days, officers grabbed a quick breakfast burrito after the event — and that was it.
Over time, we realized how important those first moments are. A community breakfast gives kids and officers time to meet, talk, and feel comfortable before the excitement begins.
For many kids, this is their first encounter with an officer — and uniforms can feel intimidating. Breakfast gives the kids and officers time to meet, talk, and laugh a little. It turns a moment of uncertainty into one of connection without barriers and pressure… it’s just people sharing a meal.
It’s simple, but it’s become one of the most meaningful parts of the day 💛
12/06/2025
Can’t believe we’re almost at the biggest day of our year!
We recently celebrated the students who made the most reading progress during our Readers Are Leaders program — and their amazing attendance 📚🏅
And one fun twist we love every year: Because of the generous sponsors and donors who believe in our mission, EVERY child gets to go on the Holiday Shopping Spree, not just the ones who showed progress. Because at SWAC, every kid deserves joy, support, and a moment to shine.
Huge thank you to our sponsor CEFCU for spending the morning with us and helping hand out books. Your support makes days like this possible!
Please read this following article. Please share.
https://enewspaper.mercurynews.com/infinity/article_popover_share.aspx?guid=500000d5-446e-45db-9e26-f3c8e819624d&share=true&fbclid=IwY2xjawOf8htleHR