MERIDIAN TOWNSHIP - Many children wake up Christmas morning to find presents under the tree and others aren't always as fortunate.

The Meridian Township Police Department teamed up with the rest of Ingham County for the ninth annual Shop With a Cop event to give 100 children a merrier Christmas.

Before the big shopping spree, officers met at Plymouth Congregational Church to get paired up with their child.

Samara Gonzales, a Lansing resident, said, "I'm a mother of four and I think it's so kind for the officers to come out and take the time... And you see the officers holding the kids by the hand."

After introductions and some juice and donuts, officers and the children departed in patrol cars. The procession led them to Walmart, where each child received $100 to spend on their Christmas wish list.

Officers assisted their child with selecting the gifts and were responsible for keeping track of how much money they spent.

Nicholas Wagner, Meridian Township Police Cadet, said, "As they tell us in the beginning parts of this occasion, you know, this is, for most of them, the only Christmas that they're going to be able to experience. So it's just nice to walk around with them and allow that to happen."

After the gifts were purchased, the children saw Santa and were provided with a meal from the Subway inside of Walmart

Greg Frenger, lieutenant of Meridian Township, said, "Allen, the young man I was with today, was 6 years old and he was really excited to get some things for himself, but also he wanted something for his sister and his mom and father. So he was really a bundle of joy and a lot of energy!"

While the children were eating, volunteers were behind the scenes furiously wrapping all of the children's gifts, so they were ready to go home with them for the holidays.