The first day of school may be well over more than a month away, but Altria Group Inc. is making sure backpacks are packed and ready for more than 700 children in the Richmond area through the YMCA of Greater Richmond’s Bright Beginnings program.
About 100 of those backpacks will go to the Shop with a Cop cause – the YMCA’s partnership with Richmond Police and the Richmond Sheriff’s Office that pairs a member of law enforcement with a child for back-to-school shopping.
Altria employees will fill the backpacks with school supplies 8:30 to 11:30 a.m. Thursday, July 22, at the company’s corporate headquarters, 6603 W. Broad St. A Richmond Police officer will be available at this time to discuss the Department’s participation with Shop with a Cop and to thank Altria as a community partner. Members of the media are encouraged to attend.
Each year, Richmond Police partners with the YMCA to provide volunteers to take young people shopping at a local store. The shopping trip is sponsored by Altria Group Inc. Richmond Police officers pick up the children from their homes, take them to the store, help them shop and make sure they return home safely – ready to start the school year off right.
