After Pine Bluffs police officers participated in shop with a cop this past Wednesday, they used their Saturday morning to team up with fire fighters from the community to help make the holidays happier for local kids.

Officer Mathew Miller and Sergeant Rodney Kemp joined heroes from Laramie County Fire District #5 in a convoy from the Pine Bluffs fire department to the Walmart store on Livingston in Cheyenne with children from the community. After parking their patrol units and fire protection rigs right up front with the lights on, to show off to the Cheyenne community, the heroes and their young shopping companions headed into the store.

Inside, the kids were able to shop for loved ones with the assistance of a Pine Bluffs hero. The Walmart store partners in the adventure and helps wrap the gifts so they remain a secret when the kids get home.

Shop with a hero is an annual event for the Pine Bluffs first responders and this particular Walmart. Other first responders throughout the country partner with stores and community organizations in their areas for similar events each December. "Shop with a Cop" is a program that teams law enforcement with area youth in hopes of creating positive relationships between young people and police. The expanded, "Shop with a Hero" program has allowed communities to offer assistance to more children by involving firefighters, paramedics, and in some communities even veterans and active duty military are involved.

Kimball first responders held a similar event earlier this month.