According to Syracuse.com, more than 30 children participated in "Shop with a Cop" and "Shop with a Firefighter" with the local firefighters and police officers.
In Syracuse alone, 39 children went shopping on Saturday at Destiny USA with city firefighters and police officers.
Local cops from Manlius and Dewitt were also participated in "Shop with a Cop", they even gave the participating children a police escort to the Fayetteville Town Center. Upon their arrival they were greeted by Santa and yummy treats. They then were paired up with a police officer and shopped at Target using donated gift cards.
All the children who participated were locals to to the Central New York area and either underprivileged and/or victims of unfortunate circumstances, such as, fires, medical emergencies, criminal activity, and accidents.
7-year-old Cicero Elementary School second grader, Collin Barrett was one of 8 who went to the Cicero Target and shopped with a cop on Sunday. Just like the other children, he was given $100 gift card donated by Cicero Police Benevolent Association to buy gifts.
Collin may have been the one to buy gifts, but they weren't for him. All the presents bought were for children spending their holiday season at Upstate Golisano Children's Hospital in Syracuse.
Barrett bought 12 gifts using the $100 Target gift card all the toys were carefully chosen for babies, teens and children of all ages in between.
I think (the gifts) are going to help the kids in the hospital because it will be like they're home on Christmas and they'll still get presents... It will be like Santa came."
Said the 7- year- old.
Collin's shopping spree wasn't over yet, Cicero Police Officer Eric Flansburg told him that he would buy the generous second grader one gift.
Collin also said,
"This was one of my favorite days because I get to give kids who are sick and in the hospital presents... and I got something from a cop..."
Click here for pictures from the event and more about the story.