19 children from the Buchanan area will be treated to a free holiday shopping trip this Saturday, thanks to the Buchanan Police Department’s Shop with a Cop program.

Every year, police agencies throughout Berrien County run Shop with a Cop as a way to help kids from struggling families pick up Christmas gifts. Buchanan Police Chief Harvey Burnett tells us Buchanan Community Schools connects the department with the kids.

“My officers and our firefighters from the city, from Buchanan Township, from Bertrand Township, kind of pair up with the kids,” Burnett said. “We meet at Walmart that morning and based on donations that have been given, they shop for themselves for Christmas. They get a gift card of $200 and buy themselves gifts. A lot of times they buy gifts for their family members as well.”

They’ll head to Walmart early in the morning so as to have as much of the store to themselves as possible. Burnett says snacks will also be provided to the children.

Burnett tells us the kids get pretty excited to get to go on a shopping spree, but it’s not all about toys. The families of the children also tell officers what other kinds of needs the kids are facing, so some of the purchases will be for things like gloves and hats.

Local donations help support Shop with a Cop, so anyone interested in helping out next year should contact your local police department.