MONROE - Children who took part in the annual "Shop with a Cop" event Saturday at the Monroe Wal-Mart didn't just look for something to buy for themselves.
They wanted to spend their money on gifts for others. In turn, whether they knew it or not, they spread a lot of joy to the people who came to help.
Children, paired with sheriff's deputies, detectives and police officers from around the county, walked down the aisles with shopping carts and lists of what to buy.
Each child was given $100 to spend. It would have been easy for them to spend all of the money on themselves, but they wanted to share the Christmas spirit with other family members.
"I bought my mom a candle and my sister a video game," one boy said when he finished his Christmas shopping.
"I bought this one for my baby sister," one girl said as she pointed to an already wrapped Christmas present. "I forgot what it is, though."
For the children, it's a chance to have some money to buy presents. It's a chance many of them wouldn't have if not for the program.
They could buy anything they wanted with their $100. They walked around looking for that perfect gift for their moms and dads and siblings.
For the police officers involved, they also get something. They get to know they are helping the children and helping them understand the meaning of Christmas.
"It's one of the highlights of the year," Green County Sheriff's Deputy Charlie Worm said.
New Glarus Police Chief Steve Allbaugh, who co-chairs the program with Albany Police Chief Bob Levitt, said it allows children to see police officers from a different perspective. It shows them officers aren't just people who are tough and enforce the laws.
Albany officer Scott Fields said the event is about helping the children.
"It brings everyone together for the holidays,' he said.
Fields has helped with the program for three years and said everyone gets into the giving spirit.
"I had a kid who went over the $100 by a couple of dollars and the person at the check-out counter told us not to worry about it," he smiled.
This was the sixth year the Green County Law Enforcement Administrator Association sponsored the program, along with the help of Wal-Mart.
They wanted to spend their money on gifts for others. In turn, whether they knew it or not, they spread a lot of joy to the people who came to help.
Children, paired with sheriff's deputies, detectives and police officers from around the county, walked down the aisles with shopping carts and lists of what to buy.
Each child was given $100 to spend. It would have been easy for them to spend all of the money on themselves, but they wanted to share the Christmas spirit with other family members.
"I bought my mom a candle and my sister a video game," one boy said when he finished his Christmas shopping.
"I bought this one for my baby sister," one girl said as she pointed to an already wrapped Christmas present. "I forgot what it is, though."
For the children, it's a chance to have some money to buy presents. It's a chance many of them wouldn't have if not for the program.
They could buy anything they wanted with their $100. They walked around looking for that perfect gift for their moms and dads and siblings.
For the police officers involved, they also get something. They get to know they are helping the children and helping them understand the meaning of Christmas.
"It's one of the highlights of the year," Green County Sheriff's Deputy Charlie Worm said.
New Glarus Police Chief Steve Allbaugh, who co-chairs the program with Albany Police Chief Bob Levitt, said it allows children to see police officers from a different perspective. It shows them officers aren't just people who are tough and enforce the laws.
Albany officer Scott Fields said the event is about helping the children.
"It brings everyone together for the holidays,' he said.
Fields has helped with the program for three years and said everyone gets into the giving spirit.
"I had a kid who went over the $100 by a couple of dollars and the person at the check-out counter told us not to worry about it," he smiled.
This was the sixth year the Green County Law Enforcement Administrator Association sponsored the program, along with the help of Wal-Mart.