Santa wears a red hat and drives a sleigh. These gift givers wear badges and drive squad cars.

The third annual Shop With a Cop program helped 13 children have a better Christmas, providing $250 per child to purchase presents from Walmart on Friday, Dec. 18. Before the trip, Pizza Hut provided lunch.

"The program targets children dealing with a family crisis during the year," according to a statement from the Wadesboro Police Department. In addition to the presents, one family was provided with $185 to buy heating oil.

Local citizens and businesses gave nearly $3,000 to purchase the gifts.

"He has got more toys floating through his head than he can possibly handle," Amy Davis said of her son, Kobe Teal, 7. Her other son, Mackenzie Davis, 13, went on the shopping spree also.

Davis said her eldest son prepared a list for the occasion, as he purchased a cell phone, an MP3 player and iPod accessories. Teal browsed.

Teal's haul included a scooter, a remote control truck, toy rockets, a basketball and a goal to go with it.

He said the goal and the truck were his favorite gifts.

Walmart employees followed the children and helped them keep a running tally of the cost of their presents. The company eased the process by providing gift cards with the allocated funds.

This was the third year of the Shop With a Cop program.