Sirens sound as police officers, firefighters and EMT services round the corner of Target. Excited children line up on the sidewalk as the first responders ride by smiling and waving. Local first responders and Target hosted the annual Shop with a Cop and Firefighter on Tuesday, Dec. 5, 2023. 

The event provides children an opportunity to interact with first responders in a way that normally wouldn’t be accessible to the children or their families. Police and fire department personnel paired off with children to scour the aisles of Target in search of toys and clothes for Christmas, making their December a little more joyful.

“I think Shop with a Cop does a couple things for the community,” Texarkana Texas Police Department public information officer Shawn Vaughn said. “One is that it obviously gives the kids an opportunity to get something for Christmas that they might not be able to, and I also think it gives the children that are involved in this an opportunity to see first responders, police officers and firefighters maybe in a different light.”

In previous years, shoppers received money from local sponsors and donors that allowed them to provide $100 for the kids to spend on whatever they wanted to purchase for themselves or their families.

“This year our donations were actually really good so we were able to increase the amount from $100 to $150, so in total that’s about $18,000 we raised for the kids,” Vaughn said. “Shop with a cop is a nonprofit organization. We do this every year and it’s organized by our board of directors, raising money in the community through the donations and events that we host throughout the year.”

Target teams up with the local first responders to ensure the event runs smoothly and helps make the shopper’s Christmas merry.

“My favorite part about this entire experience is just to see the interactions with the kids and first responders, the planning is a little tedious, but in the end, it’s worth seeing the smiles on the kids’ faces when they check out,” Target guest experience team leader Renea Booker said.

Texas High School junior and C-5 volunteer firefighter Isabella Cornelius participated in her first Shop with a Cop as a volunteer this year. She helped her shopper pick out all the toys he wanted while staying within the budget.

“This was my first year participating in the event, and I really enjoyed it,” Cornelius said. “Shopping with the kids and helping them pick out the things they wanted truly made me happy.”

With the event recurring annually, this holiday tradition not only grows the families and first responders closer but also provides the kids with a memorable Christmas. 

“I truly believe that events like this help make a difference in the lives of these families and the community as a whole,” Cornelius said.