It’s still dark outside as the first children, rubbing the sleep from their eyes, begin to filter through the doors of the Ames City Auditorium.

Local police officers, holding steaming cups of coffee, herd the kids into the gymnasium. “Go on in and have a seat on the bleachers,” says one. “We’ll get started soon.”

One little girl wearing a puffy white coat breaks loose from her family and runs toward the doors leading into the gym.

“C’mon, mom!” she says. “They said go on in and have a seat!”

The family is too late to sit on the overflowing bleachers. They join the six other families standing against the wall who are waiting to shop with a cop.

Shop with a Cop pairs local, university, county and state police officers with needy children, who use donations from local residents to buy holiday gifts for themselves and their family.

“It really boils down to being able to help kids who need assistance this time of year and seeing the smiles on their faces,” said Mark Mills, one of the Ames Police officers who coordinated the event. “It’s a good chance for kids and other people to see us in a different light – as more than police officers, but as regular people.”

The Ames Police Department became the first in Iowa to launch the program in 1994, Mills said. Since then, more than 800 local children have benefited from the program.

The department assisted about 175 children this year, which is more than in previous years, he said.

Sunlight is beginning to filter into the gym as the last few children are paired with officers. The groups file out into the hallway and onto CyRide buses for the ride to Kmart.

The four Williams children – 13-year-old Sylvia, 12-year-old Aaron, 11-year-old Bryston and 8-year-old Joshua – have been assigned to Officer John Nordyke. He divides the children among the volunteers to make shopping easier. He takes Joshua.

“I have no idea what all this is!” Nordyke says, as he walks past Harry Potter figurines and Hot Wheels, chasing the little boy who is barely tall enough to see over the shopping cart.

The boy crouches by a box containing a WWF Hardcore Action Ring. Joshua places the item in the cart. When his shopping cart is full, Nordyke tries to leave the toy section.

That excitement is what Pat Anderson, Kmart assistant manager and coordinator for the program, enjoys most about Shop with a Cop.

“Once they start to shop, their eyes light up,” she said. “That’s when they start to wake up.”

Finally, Joshua is ready to check out.

The Williams children pack onto the bus to return to City Hall to wrap their presents. Laughter echoes in the gym. Children scream as they use empty rolls of wrapping paper as swords. Nordyke said this is his favorite part of the program.

“The best part is all the smiles,” he said. “It’s just the fact that they get to have what they want.”

When Marka Williams arrives, her children send her away. “You can’t look, mom!” they yell. “I have to wrap your gift!”

She turns away, laughing. But the kids are eager to show off their purchases. Sylvia brings over a pair of glitter-covered jeans. “You found those for yourself?” Williams asks.

“Yep!” her daughter answers. “I bought you something, but you can’t look!”

Williams kisses her on the forehead and sends her daughter to continue her wrapping.

“All I was able to afford this year was stocking stuffers,” Williams said. “I’m just thrilled with this. Look how happy they made these kids.”

Joshua comes over to his mother next. “I got eight presents!” he tells her, holding up nine fingers.

His mother laughs and kisses him. Joshua returns to his pile of gifts.

“This lets my kids know there are a lot of good cops,” she said. “I don’t want anybody to say anything bad about a cop. Never.”

As the family prepares to leave, Nordyke shakes hands with everyone. “Merry Christmas,” he says, smiling.

Williams has tears in her eyes. “Merry Christmas,” she answers.