Take a United Church of Christ General Synod tradition, add a new twist, and “Cookies with a Cop,” is the result. A grassroots program that started after Synod this summer is geared to building relationships between police officers and the community they serve. It’s off to such a good start in Greater Cleveland that local organizers hope it can become a wider church tradition. The latest chapter unfolded Sept. 13 at First Congregational UCC in Hudson, Ohio.
As part of its “First Serve–Serve First” annual day of service, church volunteers baked enough chocolate chip cookies to fill 30 plastic containers. Captain Keith Sulzer of the Cleveland Police Foundation attended a thank-you potluck as festivities ended Sunday and accepted the cookies, which officers will share with children and adults along their routes. Once empty, the plastic containers will store coloring and other art supplies and be placed in the cruisers. When officers encounter a situation where children need to be removed temporarily from a dangerous circumstance, the children can use the supplies in the box while the officers calm the situation. Read more…