VIDALIA — A steady procession of Vidalia Police Department patrol cars pulled into the Walmart parking lot throughout Monday morning and early afternoon.

Nothing was wrong though. The officers were just shopping, along with some special children.

Monday was the VPD’s first Shop With A Cop, an event in which officers volunteer to take children shopping for needed items during the holiday season.

“That’s what we’re here for, to try and help out the kids and try to let them know we’re here for them,” Capt. Charles Ferguson said.

In the past, the VPD has partnered with the Natchez Police Department for Santa Cop. But this year, Grant Coordinator Georganna Berry said Sgt. Christy Bowman suggested they try to write a grant for their own event.

Berry did so, and they were awarded $2,500 from Walmart, allowing their own event to be created.

“Words can’t explain the excitement,” Bowman said.

School officials for the event recommended 20 children in grades Pre-K through eighth grade school leaders believed needed assistance this year. In honor of the old partnership between the two police departments, four children from Vidalia still shopped with Natchez cops at their event, and four Natchez children came to Vidalia.

NPD Officer Hanna Smith even came down to help.

“They help us, I help them,” Smith said.

Children divided into two groups, with some shopping in the morning after breakfast at McDonald’s and others grabbing lunch at Johnny’s Pizza House. Officers met the children with whom they were paired and drove them to Walmart in their police cars.

“I’ve never gotten to ride in a cop car before,” Kalie Stephens, 11, said. “It felt a little weird, because I felt like I was arrested.”

But Stephens said she had fun. Once she got to Walmart, she and Lilly White, 11, began looking for clothes together.

“They’re best friends, and they want to match,” Dispatch Officer Andrea Foster said.

The girls showed each other what they were thinking of getting and pointed out items they liked. It was a special moment for Lt. Walter Williams.

“That’s what I enjoy, seeing the look on their faces,” Williams said.

Foster and Williams followed the two girls, using the calculator function on their phones to track how much money they had left. The children had $120 to spend on items, such as clothes and toothpaste, as well as a toy or two. Children were also given small bags of groceries.

For Sarah Thomas, 8, the choice of a toy was easy. She spotted what she wanted right away — an Easy-Bake Oven.

“She gazed at that and that was a wrap,” VPD Triad Officer Chakatria Johnson said.

Although Johnson said she encouraged Thomas to walk around and see if there was anything else she wanted, she was adamant.

“I wanted it to use to make stuff,” Thomas said.

In the afternoon, Vidalia High School Resource Officer Kejuane Bates and Ferguson didn’t have it quite so easy with Jimmy Clem, 5, who needed some prompting.

“Do you like trucks?” Clem asked the officers.

“Do you like trucks?” Bates said.

Ferguson pulled toy trucks, trying to find one Clem liked. Finally Clem decided on a monster truck.

Ferguson hopes it’s something Clem will remember.

“I hope he’ll come back one day and say, ‘I know you two officers — you helped me,’” Ferguson said.