WESTBURY, N.Y. (WCBS 880) — Over four dozen underprivileged students from the Westbury School District on Thursday got the chance to join their favorite superheroes on a holiday shopping trip.
The 50 students were given $150 each to spend on gifts for themselves and their loved ones and were accompanied by dozens of off-duty police officers dressed as Spider-Man, Leo the Lion, Batman and more.
“[The event is] letting the community know that we’re more than just police officers out there writing tickets and arresting people,” said Officer Donna Lanfranchi, who dressed up as Wonder Woman for the day. “We really like to get in touch with the community – especially the children, to let them know it’s safe to call us and be with us.”
The children were brought to the Walmart located in Westbury and given cash from the Nassau County Police Department Foundation.
Many of the children were seen excitedly moving around the store and 9-year-old Ruth stopped to tell WCBS 880’s Sophia Hall she was excited to spend her money on her family.
“For my mom, I’m going to buy her a ring. And my sister, I’m going to buy her a necklace and for my brother, he wants a big bag of candy,” she said.
Meanwhile, 10-year-old Arnold, who was excited to buy clothing and toys, said the trip inspired him to want to become a Nassau County police officer.
Police Commissioner Patrick Ryder was also at the event, saying he enjoyed seeing how excited the children were and he was grateful for the officers who volunteered their time.
He added that it’s great to see the Nassau Police Department’s “men and women that put on these costumes, that they buy [with] their own money, and volunteer their own time to come out here to be with the kids as superheroes.”