Shop With A Cop McHenry party offers a great time for a great cause at VFW Saturday

There’s a party going on at 6 p.m. this Saturday, Nov. 21, at the McHenry VFW, 3002 Route 120, a quarter mile east of the Fox River. Party goers are guaranteed a good time that includes food, music, prizes and auctions. They’re also promised to come away with a warm sense of having done something for those less fortunate.

The event is the Shop With A Cop Party – an annual fundraiser hosted by MC3, a McHenry Area Chamber of Commerce business networking group. The networking group supports McHenry County Police Charities by raising funds so that police officers can take children from disadvantaged families shopping.

A police officer will arrive, in a squad car, to pick up a child, or siblings, for a one-on-one shopping experience. Each child receives $150, along with a winter coat, hat, boots and gloves. The officer will then take the child to Meijers, on Route 31 in McHenry, where the two of them will go down the aisles as the child picks out presents.

“I’ve heard that, often, the kids are picking out presents for their families – the parents, brothers and sisters,” said Bill Thomas, the owner of Northern Illinois Windows. “The police officer has to remind them to get something for themselves.”

Thomas, a long-time member of MC3, said he’s been involved with Shop With A Cop for several years. The party, he said, is a great time supporting a great cause.

In the past, the party ran from 5 to 8 p.m . on a Thursday night. This year, however, the group moved the event to a Saturday in the hopes of raising more than the approximately $14,000 they’ve raised the last several years. To increase the draw to the event, locally renowned band Hans and the Hormones will play at the event this year.

Musical entertainment will also include a performance by the Johnsburg High School Madrigal Choir singing Christmas and holiday songs while dressed in Victorian outfits.

Beyond the music, the event will offer table after table of raffle items, more tables with silent auction items and other live auction items. This year, the live auction items include an African safari.

There will be food and a cash bar.