Smiling faces filled the toy aisles of the Cross Roads Walmart on Dec. 19.
Those faces largely belonged to the children, families and volunteers who participated in Aubrey Police Department's annual Shop with a Cop event.
'This event means making a difference within our community,' School Resource Officer Velvet Brown said. 'It means that we've been allowed to minister to these families, which I believe we're all called to do. To me, it means an actual example of showing love and sacrifice.'
The program, which began in 2020, was localized more with all the 2024 participants coming from schools in communities the Aubrey PD serves within Aubrey and Providence Village.
Brown, Officer Jay Moussa and Sgt. Evan Ishmael worked together to coordinate this year's program.
The students were selected by the counselors at the school, and the police department, through the nonprofit established to make Shop with a Cop possible, made serving the 77 kids on the lists a reality.
Kristen Warnick, who has four older children, said the experience was a special for Cathy Warnick.
'It gives her a different light with police officers,' Kristen said, adding that her daughter hears negative things about the police from her peers. '... This is an awesome opportunity for her.'
Samantha Petriello, Jaxson Turner's mom, said she was grateful to see her son so excited.
'It's very special and overwhelming,' she said. 'He was born premature—30 weeks on my birthday, so when I see these special opportunities for him, it just makes me really emotional.'
Tameko Lawler accompanied her grandson through the experience and said she liked that the kids could select their own items and the connection the event built between the officers and the children.
'It gives them a sense of comfort and a feeling that they're normal and human and that they're approachable,' she said.
Paired with first responders from the Aubrey Police Department, the Aubrey Fire Department and the Cross Roads Police Department was an additional volunteer who helped track the amount spent to keep it around $125 per kid.
'It allows the parents to be present in the moment with their kids,' Brown said.
Some were the significant others of the officers.
Others were staff members or elected officials from the participating communities.
Providence Village Town Secretary Hilary McConnell said she loved 'seeing all the kids' smiles.'
Providence Village Mayor Linda Inman, who has been part of the event annually since it started.
'They're all so careful to pick out exactly what they want within the budget they've been given,' she said. 'But I always try to let them go over a little and I'll [make up the difference] just because they're so much fun and they're so excited.'
Aubrey Mayor Chris Rich was proud to be able to offer his help as well.
'It's my first year to be here,' Rich said.
Aubrey City Manager Charles Kreidler, who was the police chief who originally brought the national program to APD, said he is proud of the way the program has evolved locally.
'We started something great for the children, and this year we had all Aubrey and Providence Village children,' he said, adding 'it's fantastic to see it continue to grow.'
