I know, you’ve probably got something important to do next week Thursday, Nov. 21. You might want to rotate the socks in your sock drawer or play another game of solitaire on the computer. But, if you think you can get away from all that for a little while, is there ever a party waiting for you.

For the seventh year in a row, MC3, a McHenry Area Chamber of Commerce business networking group, is holding its Shop With A Cop Networking Fundraiser. Don’t let those last two words fool you though; it’s really a party. And what a party.

While raising money so police officers with McHenry County Police Charities can take deserving children holiday shopping, everyone has a great time.

The event is at 31 North Banquet & Conference Center, 217 N. Front Street, McHenry, and starts at 5 p.m. It runs until 8 p.m. but, in those three hours, there is food, a cash bar, raffles, a silent auction and a live auction. The event is also spiced up with some awesome live music.

Live music includes a real special treat. The Johnsburg High School and McHenry High School choirs will have a sing off competition. Not only are the young singers incredible – it’s all-but impossible to choose one over the other – but they dress for the occasion as 1800s carolers.

The raffles and auctions offer opportunities to do quite a bit of your own holiday shopping. But, of course, the goal is to provide opportunities for those deserving children to shop while hanging out, one on one, with a police officer.

In previous years, the police officers have reported that, while shopping, the children have focused almost exclusively on purchasing presents for family members; the police officers have to remind the children to buy something for themselves.

The party, oops, Networking Fundraiser, is open to the public. The only requirement is a willingness to have a good time.