Harris County Sheriff's Office, Target and Children Like Loni Come Together for Shop with a Cop Event in Katy
On a busy December evening in Katy, the aisles at Target became something more than a place to shop. On Thursday, December 18, 2025, deputies with the Harris County Sheriff’s Office spent time one-on-one with eight children from the Children Like Loni organization during a Shop with a Cop event focused on building trust, easing nerves, and creating positive holiday memories.
The event was part of HCSO’s Neighborhood Policing efforts and was made possible through a long-standing partnership with Target. Store employees helped transform the night into a welcoming experience, setting up refreshments, coloring pages, and activity tables that allowed families, children, and deputies to relax before heading out together. HCSO shared that Target staff look forward to the event each year and take pride in helping make it special for everyone involved.
“Shop with a Cop is way for deputies to engage with the youth in the community and create positive relationships. This allows the youth to see the deputies as friends and comfortable to speak to them if they ever need to,” said Elizabeth Longoria with the Harris County Sheriff’s Office.
Supporting Children Through Faith and Action
The children were selected through The Children Like Loni Foundation, a Houston-based nonprofit and 501(c)(3) organization founded in 2015. Built on a mission rooted in faith and action, the organization supports children with intellectual disabilities and those facing adversity by focusing on character development, self-esteem, positive thinking, and social interaction skills.
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Children Like Loni also works to address food insecurity in some of Houston’s most vulnerable communities, offering assistance and resources to families in need. Inspired by the life of Loni—remembered for her strength, compassion, creativity, and joyful spirit—the organization is dedicated to ensuring that every child, regardless of circumstances, is seen, supported, and given a fair chance to thrive.
HCSO has partnered with Children Like Loni for the past three years, drawn to its mission of helping young people grow into the best version of themselves.
When Barriers Come Down
As the evening unfolded, deputies noticed a shift that often doesn’t happen during typical calls for service. In a relaxed setting, conversations came easily, laughter followed, and walls slowly came down. Several of the children not only enjoyed shopping for themselves but also showed thoughtfulness toward the deputies walking alongside them, asking if they would like anything as well.
“One of the parents shared with us that her son was nervous when he arrived, he held her hand tightly because he was afraid of the officers. At the end of the event the youth boy was laughing and speaking with the officers as they were his friends and his mother came and thanked us for allow him to be a part of the event because it really helped him see another side of law enforcement,” Longoria said.
For deputies, events like Shop with a Cop carry personal meaning. Many volunteer because they know these moments may represent the only Christmas gifts some children receive. The experience also offers deputies something different from their everyday work—an opportunity to connect without urgency, enforcement, or crisis, creating positive memories that stay with both the children and the officers long after the night ends.
A Season of Giving Across Harris County
The Katy Shop with a Cop event was one of many holiday outreach efforts led by HCSO across Harris County this season. For the 31st year in a row, Sheriff Ed Gonzalez and the Harris County Sheriff’s Office partnered with The Children’s Assessment Center of Houston–Harris County, purchasing and delivering more than 1,000 toys to benefit over 500 children who have experienced abuse or hardship. Deputies sponsor children directly each year, selecting gifts from wish lists to help bring comfort and joy during the holidays.
HCSO teams also joined holiday activities at Ronald McDonald House Charities Greater Houston, where families of hospitalized children were able to select gifts during what can be an especially difficult time of year. Additional outreach included a Christmas Toy Raffle at Haverstock Community and a festive event at Garden City Apartments, where deputies hosted games, crafts, and activity stations for local youth.
In addition to its countywide holiday outreach, HCSO also supported community-led initiatives such as a Christmas Toy Giveaway hosted in South Houston by Los Amigos Empresarios. Held December 20, 2025, the event provided toys to children in need and brought together local leaders, businesses, and volunteers, with Harris County Sheriff Ed Gonzalez and HCSO lending their support to help ensure a safe, welcoming experience for families.
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Together, these efforts highlight HCSO’s broader commitment to community engagement—one that extends beyond a single season. Looking ahead, the department hopes to continue growing partnerships with organizations like Children Like Loni and community-minded businesses like Target, always with the goal of creating positive experiences that help youth feel supported, respected, and comfortable reaching out to law enforcement when they need help.
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Tiffany Krenek has been on the My Neighborhood News team since August 2021. She is passionate about curating and sharing content that enriches the lives of our readers in a personal, meaningful way. A loving mother and wife, Tiffany and her family live in the West Houston/Cypress region.
