Community Comes Together for Cops for Kids

What happens when you mix the Ghoul, chili chefs and a luxury yacht cruise?

A happy holiday season for those in need in St. Clair Shores.

Fundraising events are being held across the city to raise money for Cops for Kids, the volunteer program led by the St. Clair Shores police which provides gifts and other items to children and families during the holidays.

"Every fundraiser is important because money is tight and we need to raise the funds before December," said St. Clair Shores police officer Jeff Goode, president of Cops for Kids.

The organization held a dinner cruise on the Ovation yacht in September, where 200 people spent a night on Lake St. Clair enjoying dinner and music by the Dave Huff Band.

The large-scale Cops for Kids volunteer effort has grown since the organization's inception 36-years ago by St. Clair Shores police officers John St. Germane and Fred Marengo. The two officers responded to a police call at a home on Christmas and found the children did not have any presents.

The officers went to their own homes and brought gifts back to the house. This began a tradition that has continued at Christmas, and throughout the year, of helping families in need in St. Clair Shores.

Nearly 150 families in St. Clair Shores, and 300 children, received items from Cops for Kids last year.

The Ghoul returns

This weekend a Halloween party will help provide families with a Chirstmas. The is bringing in the legendary for a Halloween party that features music from the Detroit Hemi's.

This is the fourth year the club has brought the Ghoul in for the Halloween show and fundraiser for Cops for Kids.

During the night, the Ghoul will perform his act and roam the crowd while clips from his show, and late-night horror movies, will be playing on televisions in the club.

"It is a lot of fun and brings back a lot of nostalgia," said Bill Miller, entertainment coordinator for the club.

"I was very fortunate I never had to wake up on Christmas Day with no presents under the tree," he added. "I can't imagine any kid waking up and not having any presents under the tree."

Chili for the children

The third major fundraiser for Cops for Kids will be held Oct. 27 when nearly 40 different chefs enter their best recipe for IV.

“We are overwhelmed at how quickly Chili Wars has grown," said co-director Joe Evangelista, in a release. "We take the cause seriously but Chili Wars is designed to be light hearted and fun!”

In addition to a variety of chilis, award categories include best red, white, wild game chilis, most creative serving area and best dressed team.

“With the economy in the state it is in, St. Clair Shores Cops for Kids has an even greater demand for help this year and this is a great way for people to get involved”, co-director Paul Palazzolo said in a release.