TOLEDO, Ohio — 100 members of local law enforcement took the day to give back to the community.
For the 16th year, the Toledo police non-profit Feet on the Street held their 12 Kids of Christmas event.
This year, 100 area officers were paired up with 100 local kids with the goal of the event to show these kids a different side of law enforcement.
"For a lot of the officers, the hardest thing for us is that we are always sent to volatile or violent situations and we have to act as if we are at a volatile or violent situation," said Sargeant Joe Okos, the COO of Feet on the Street. "We don't always get the time to sit and talk with the children and talk with the community. This always gives my officers and the community the opportunity to see that we are just normal people and that we like to do normal things."
The day began at Imagination Station with breakfast and a visit from Santa.
Then everyone was off to the Meijer on Alexis Road, where each child was given a donated $100 gift card to buy whatever they wanted for the holidays.
Some went for candy or electronics, but the busiest part of the store was the toy department.
"Most of the children we have here probably would not actually have a Christmas if it were not for our intervention," said Okos.
'12 Kids of Christmas' initiative pairs Toledo area officers with kids to have breakfast, meet Santa and shop for gifts for the holidays
"The officers, they like the toys just as much as the children," said Katie Maccagnone, executive director of Brightside Academy. "So I think for the kids to be able to see the officers in that light, they came back and they literally talked about it all year long."
Along with building a positive relationship between these kids and law enforcement officers, the event also aimed to spread some holiday cheer.
And judging from the faces of everyone involved, this year's event was a holiday success.
"The aisles are just filled with laughter. I mean, both from our children and the officers, but also our staff as well," said Maccagnone. "You know, teachers have a lot going on as well, so getting to see their smiles along with the children and just the laughter."
Feet on the Street also hosts "Operation Hands Off" gun safety programs throughout the year, along with an “Urban Outdoors” program.
MORE FROM WTOL 11: