The aisles of the local Walmart were filled with Kentucky State Police officers on Tuesday December 22 but they were not there on official police business. The state police officers from Post 4 in Elizabethtown were there on official Santa business as they shopped with needy children in the area.

Every year the S.W.A.T. from Post 4 conduct its annual “Shop With A Trooper” as police help provide children from Grayson, Meade and Breckinridge Counties with a merrier Christmas by taking them on a shopping spree and allowing them to spend $150 any way each child chooses.

This year the number of children who were assisted through the program doubled.

“Last year we shopped with about 60 kids but because our donations had increased we were able to help more children this year,” said KSP Trooper Davy Norris “We shopped with 23 yesterday at the Walmart in Hillview and today we had 45 kids that we shopped with. “

The children that shopped at the Hillview Walmart were from Hardin, Larue, Bullitt and Nelson Counties with the children at the Leitchfield Walmart from Grayson, Breckinridge and Meade Counties.

“We look forward to doing this every year,” said Trooper Davy Norris. ”Throughout the year we have fund raisers and raise the money to help these kids and then we enjoy the time we spend allowing the kids to get anything they want.”

The annual event is funded through donations from organizations and individuals and the troopers and staff at Post 4 have several post-wide fund-raisers throughout the year.

“We sent out letters to groups and individual and everyone was very generous,” said Norris. “We know that a lot of families are having a hard time and this is our way to make sure those kids still have Christmas.”

There are no restrictions on what the children are allowed to buy and money is spent any way the child wants. The troopers are there to assist in the shopping. They do make sure the games and toys are age appropriate to the child who is making the purchase.

“We ask the parents what they children need and that is the first thing on the list,” said Norris. “There are times the kids want to shop for everyone except themselves. They want to buy presents for their mom and dad and that is fine but we do encourage the child to pick out items for himself.”

Norris added the fundraiser continues throughout the year and the S.W.A.T. team will accept donations at: Shop with a Trooper, Attn: Jody Shacklette, P.O. 1297, Elizabethtown, KY 42701. For more information contact Post 4 at 270-766-5078.