For the 18th year, the Colonial Regional Police department sponsored its ‘Shop with a Cop’ program as eight youngsters received royal treatment Dec, 14 to shop for themselves, their families and the U.S. Marine Corps Reserve’s Toys for Tots program.

The kids were joined by officers from the department and ‘Santa helpers’ as they were each picked up at their homes by an officer in a police cruiser, treated to breakfast at Chick -Fil-A, given a shopping spree at Walmart, and finished with lunch at Red Robin, which included a special visit from Santa Claus.

The program is funded by donations from citizens and business according to Colonial Regional Chief James DePalma.

Each child receives $500 to spend on family gifts, gets a $50 gift card from Wegman’s and is allocated $100 to spend on toys for the U.S. Marine Corps Reserve’s ‘Toys for Tots’ program.

Following the young shoppers around Walmart is a unique experience as they shop from a list that contains gift suggestions for each family member and are aided by Colonial Regional officers and other volunteers. When they finish shopping, each child goes through a regular checkout line. From there the child visits with members of the Marine Corps League where he or she presents the toys purchased for the ‘Toys for Tots’ collection. Walmart employees and other volunteers finish up by wrapping all of the presents purchased. “It’s all for the kids,” said one wrapper. Wrapping paper is donated by Walmart.

The final stop is at Red Robin, once again driven there by an officer in a police vehicle. Burgers, fries, chicken fingers and beverages were the preferred orders of the day for lunch followed by a special visit by Santa Claus, with whom each child had a chance to visit.