PERTH AMBOY LAUNCHED FIRST ANNUAL "SHOP WITH A COP" PROGRAM

PERTH AMBOY, NJ (12/19/2022) - The Jewish Renaissance Foundation(JRF) teamed up with the Perth Amboy Police Department (PAPD) to host the first annual "Shop with a Cop" on December 16, 2022, at Woodbridge Center Mall's Dave & Busters, located on 274 Woodbridge Center Dr, Woodbridge Township.   Shop with a Cop is a program where police officers and volunteers assist children with their holiday shopping at no cost to the child and their family. The event promotes social justice and reinforces positive police relationships.  20 students from the Academy for Urban Leadership Charter School (AULCS) were selected to participate in the statewide initiative. On the event day, the JRF provided the students a $250 visa gift card for their holiday shopping and paired them with a police officer to assist them.  

"I would like to thank the Jewish Renaissance Foundation and the Perth Amboy Police Department for making this event possible," said Mayor Helmin J. Caba. "I commend our extraordinary officers who donated their time to help our students select holiday gifts for themselves and their families."

"We would like to express our gratitude and appreciation to AULCS for always welcoming our officers and facilitating programs that create a stronger bond between the youth in our community and our officers," said Police Chief Larry Cattano. "We hope this becomes an annual event, and we can continue to make holiday memories together."

"As the East Middlesex County's Community Action Agency, this initiative aligns with our goals," said Sherri Goldberg, JRF Director of Community and Family Services. "We applaud Sgt. Jessica DeJesus and all the officers who volunteered their time and participated in this special event. It will be a day I will always remember!" 

"The Academy for Urban Leadership Charter School appreciates the partnerships with the Jewish Renaissance Foundation's Step-Up Program and the Perth Amboy Police Department," said AUL Chief Lead Administrator Dr. Jeff White. "The Shop with a Cop, a nationwide program, allowed our exceptional scholars to have beautiful interactions with Perth Amboy Police Officers and provided them with a joyous holiday experience that they will remember forever."

"I don't know who had more fun, the kids or the cops, said Sergeant Jessica DeJesus. "Thank you so much to the JRF for making this possible, and we also want AUL to know we appreciate them for always opening their doors to us, making sure we have a strong relationship with their students."

After the students concluded their shopping experience, they were given gifts by the PAPD and thirty-dollar ($30) Walmart gift cards from the JRF for the students to use for additional holiday shopping needs. The day ended with lots of hugs and gratitude. 

About the Jewish Renaissance Foundation 
We believe in changing lives by creating hope and self-sufficiency, and we succeed by providing essential health and human services, community development and youth programs. Our life-improving services extend across all cultures and faiths, regardless of economic status. The JRF brings innovative ideas and culturally competent programs and services to advance the health and well-being of all people and we work to address barriers to economic self-sufficiency. The JRF serves as both a Federally designated Community Action Agency administering a range of anti-poverty programs and a Qualified Health Center providing primary care at our Community Health Center (CHC) in Edison, NJ to those who have limited access to health care. 

About the City of Perth Amboy
Perth Amboy is an urban community with a rich cultural history and a more than 300-year-old maritime and industrial legacy. The City comprises a land area of 4.55 square miles with a population of 55,291, according to the 2020 Census. Visit perthamboynj.org. Follow us on Instagram, Facebook and Twitter @cityofperthamboy. 


About Academy for Urban Leadership Charter School
 At AUL Charter, we teach from the heart. “The Academy for Urban Leadership Charter School has a history of providing a high-quality education to its students.” - David Hespe, Commissioner of NJ Department of Education, 2016. The Academy for Urban Leadership Charter School is a public school that operates under a charter granted by the State Commissioner of Education on September 8, 2010. AUL is independent of the local school district and is managed by its Board of Trustees. As a charter school, AUL receives public funding and is allowed to raise funds and receive private contributions.

Copy of release with event photos available here.

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