Nine-year-old Zyire Sanu reached deep into a shopping cart loaded with toys to locate a package containing boxing gloves that he had picked from a shelf at Walmart in North Huntingdon.
After locating the gear and declaring them his favorite selection of the day, the Pittsburgh kid turned to his shopping chaperone, state police Cpl. Aaron Allen, and asked if the gloves were “real” and whether he could really use them.
Allen, a volunteer boxing coach at 3rd Avenue Gym in Pittsburgh, had brought along several youth boxers he mentors to Wednesday’s youth benefit event — one of six such Shop With a Cop events held around Westmoreland County over the last two weeks.
“Yes, Zyire, they’re real. And they’re all yours now,” Allen told the boy.
Within seconds, a smiling Zyire opened the box, had the gloves on both hands and was throwing jabs into the air.
“This is just a great event for us as police and the youths,” said Allen, adding that he was sad the shopping days were over for the year.
Allen, who along with Troopers Steve Limani and Tristan Tappe, helped coordinate other shopping events in Delmont, East Huntingdon, Hempfield, North Huntingdon, Rostraver and Unity. More than 25 police departments participated, helping 600 children. This was the program’s 11th year in Westmoreland County.
Shop with a Cop helps children who are the victims of crime or in some type of unfortunate circumstance. Each child gets a $150 shopping voucher and is paired with an area police officer to spend it, Limani said.
Before Zyire began shopping for toys for himself, Allen said he first selected a doll for his 1-year-old sister, Harley, plus picked a gift for a young cousin.
“I was impressed,” Allen said.
On Wednesday, police from Irwin, North Huntingdon, Penn Borough, Pitcairn and Westmoreland Park police joined area state troopers and some Pittsburgh police officers as chaperones.
Penn officer Aaron Wentroble has participated for the last six. He credited Limani, Allen and Tappe for their yearlong efforts fundraising and coordinating events.
“I really look forward to this,” Wentroble said.
Wentroble was partnered with 12-year-old Mya Doutt, a student at Penn Middle School. He took a rare trip down a makeup aisle to help her locate a hair-straightening device.
“I give today 5-stars,” Mya said, laughing, as she reached for a box on a shelf.
“I’m looking for gifts for my friends and myself,” she said.
Nearby, North Huntingdon officer Mike Beckinger checked out multiple toys chosen by Sophie Kippenberger, 8, and her brother, Skyler, 5.
“It was a lot of fun,” Sophie said.
Skyler couldn’t wait to play with a bright orange “Monster Jam” truck and auto parking garage he had picked.
For the third consecutive year, the Kenny Ross Auto Group covered the entire shopping bill for the North Huntingdon event, Limani said.
Carley Painter, who works in marketing for the auto sales company, said her husband, Adam, used to be a policeman in Irwin, and he always enjoyed participating, too.
“Now, I see it from another position and I also look forward to it every year. I have two children and I get just as excited for this day as I do for my own kids, it’s so much fun,” Painter said. “This is the biggest charitable contribution the auto group makes each year.”
With 2021 in the books, Allen said fundraising for the 2022 event would begin Thursday.
It actually began Wednesday.
The sight of watching children shopping with police officers moved North Huntingdon resident George Gilbert. He sought out Limani inside the store, pulled out his wallet and handed him several bills to donate to the non-profit program.
“I’ve seen this event on television before and always wanted to donate. Seeing it in person here, it’s just wonderful what they do,” Gilbert said.
More information is available at westmorelandshopwithacop.org.
