In Plymouth, the Marshall County shop with a cop event allowed 331 kids to spend $100 each for themselves and their families. Roughly $33,000 was raised for the event, held on Saturday at Wal-Mart.

“San Diego, California, with a population of 1.2 million, is also doing 330 kids,” said Mark Senter, Plymouth’s mayor.

The holidays are supposed to bring joy. But as so many parents know, buying gifts can also be stressful.

“Very emotional when you can’t get what they need,” said Pam Vice, mother of three.

For the families that benefit, the event comes just in time.

"Two of my children are going to be going to the Indiana School for the Blind, and I wanted them to have some new blue jeans and new shirts, and I didn't know if I was going to be able to do it or not with Christmas and everything, so it was really really awesome to get that phone call,” said Melissa Masten.

Of the roughly 800 applicants, 331 kids were chosen.

Many police, firefighters and EMT professionals from Marshall County and surrounding areas volutneered their time on Saturday.