By CHARITY B. SMITH
Sunday Times Newspapers
MELVINDALE — Police are planning on taking over McDonalds, 4001 Oakwood Blvd. for a fundraiser 4 to 7 p.m. Aug. 10.
Police officers will be taking orders, both at the counter and the drive-through, flipping burgers and dropping fries.
“So anybody that likes to yell at cops or fast food workers can kill two birds with one stone,” Lt. John Bajorek joked.
A percentage of the sales during event will go toward the police Shop with a Cop program, which is held annually during the second week of December.
Shop with a Cop allows underprivileged youth the opportunity to not only receive presents, but to give them as well. Officers are given the names of needy children through the local school district, and then take them shopping, during their off hours, at Wal-Mart in Southgate, with a budget that is typically $50 per person in their household.
“For example, if the child has a family of seven people, the budget would be $350,” Bajorek said. The children and their families are also given gift certificates for Wal-Mart “in case anybody or anything is missed on their shopping trip.
“It’s a really rewarding program.”
Police did a similar fundraiser several years back for their honor guard.
“It was fun,” Bajorek said. “You realize how hard these kids work at fast food restaurants. It is a very hard and demanding job and I think people get a kick out of seeing a cop flipping their burgers.”