Baby dolls, action figures, nerf ball sets, scooters and stuffed animals. These toys and many others were all flying off the shelves at the Tehachapi Kmart as delighted 2nd and 3rd graders from local schools ran through the aisles on Thursday evening, Dec. 21, 2017.

The Shop with a Cop program is an annual event that pairs local law enforcement officers with children who might not otherwise get a chance to shop for Christmas gifts. Officers from Tehachapi Police Department, California Highway Patrol, Kern County Sheriff, Stallion Springs, and the Railroad Police take part in the event. The officers donate their time to be with the children. The children who participate in the program are chosen by the school district. Each child is paired with an officer and given a gift card to buy gifts for themselves and their families.

This year, the Thunder on the Mountain Car Show Committee donated $2,000 to purchase the gift cards for 20 children. The children and officers met at the Tehachapi Police Department for a visit with Santa and a pizza dinner before setting out in police cars with sirens operating and lights flashing for the ride to Kmart for an exciting Christmas shopping experience. The program provides an opportunity for law enforcement officers to develop positive and trusting relationships with children in our community. The officers who took part in the event saw that the kids didn't want to spend all the money on themselves; they also wanted to give to others. For some, it was the first time in their lives that they were able to buy a gift for someone they love.

The Shop with a Cop Program is completely funded by donations. Thunder on the Mountain raises money to fund the event through the sale of raffle tickets, tee-shirts and car show registration fees for the annual car show that takes place during Mountain Festival weekend in August.