HORSEHEADS, N.Y. (WENY) -- Police departments from all over Chemung County participated in 'Shop with a Cop' at Target in Horseheads on Sunday morning.  Children in need were nominated by staff from the Elmira City School district, Horseheads School district, and the Elmira Heights School district.  They were paired up with an officer, and experienced a fun-filled day of shopping.

The morning started off with a police escort from Horseheads Middle School to the Target in Horseheads in First Transit buses.  The goal was to spread holiday spirit and create positive relationships with law enforcement.  Organizers say community support was a big part of 'Shop with a Cop.'

"The interagency coordination is 100% what makes this work.  Every police union, to Guiseppie's Pizzaeria who donates the lunch, to The Great American Cookie Company who donates desert, all of our volunteers.  Also, First Transit which [had the] buses getting the kids here, Horseheads Intermediate School for allowing us to use that location, and even Target for allowing us to bring such a vast number of kids here to shop for their families is instrumental.  We couldn't do it without our volunteers," said Lt. Richard Mathews from the Chemung County Sheriff's Office.

Each child was paired with an officer, and together they roamed the aisles shopping for special presents for both the kids and their families.

"After 'Shop with a Cop' came, now I can give my family something," said one child who participated today.

Santa even made a guest appearance to hand out candy canes to the children. The day brought smiles all around, for both the kids and the officers.  

"It was pretty cool, he knew what he wanted and we ran through the aisles, you know we had to get there quick, so it was pretty fun," remarked one officer.

After shopping at Target, the officers and kids went back to the school to wrap the presents and have some lunch.  Organizers say they're looking forward to more years of helping the community.

Uniformed officers from the Chemung County Sheriff's Office, Elmira Police Department, Horseheads Police Department, Elmira Heights Police Department, West Elmira Police Department, and New York State Police all volunteered their time today.