Waking up on Christmas morning, a time when children are excited to get presents and gifts from under the tree. Kids rush to the Christmas tree and wake their parents up to go see the gifts. Some children find a bunch of gifts, but others wake up to see nothing. Some years, families need a Christmas miracle.

For 12 kids, the Wylie Practice of Leadership, Integrity, and Character Education (P.O.L.I.C.E.) club provides one.

“The purpose of the Christmas Shopping is to assist Wylie ISD families who need a little assistance and help make sure they have a great Christmas and Holiday Season,” school resource officer and club sponsor Officer Michael Stewart said.

The P.O.L.I.C.E Club provides gifts for kids of any age range, from infants to teenagers.

“It made me feel like we were helping out a ton of families and that we were making their Christmas better,” Wylie High junior Hayley Pack said. “I love helping others and getting things to help them, it makes me happy”

The club combines students from both Wylie High and Wylie East to serve the community.

“The point of this is to give back to the community,” Club Lieutenant freshman Cason Helms said. “When shopping it made me so happy when I found out I was shopping for a 2-year-old girl, my mindset was to make this be her best Christmas ever.”

The club raised and provided $125 for each child, and students paired up to shop for them at the Wylie Walmart.

“This helps make sure these Wylie ISD students can have a great Christmas and allows their parents or guardians to not have to worry during this stressful time and just enjoy the holidays,” Officer Stewart said.

Once they shopped, students had to ask for help from Walmart employees to see how much the items they had picked cost.

“I love when we got our kid to buy presents for and had to go get the presents,” Pack said. “It was fun to see what we could get them to make their Christmas great.”

When scanning their items, one group noticed that they had gone $50 over their budget, and would have to give away some items, but Walmart Consumables Team Lead Laura provided another Christmas miracle by paying the remaining $50 herself.

“This time of year, I feel really bad for the kids who can’t get anything for Christmas,” Laura said. “I have kids of my own, so I can not imagine that.”

The next day, the P.O.L.I.C.E club members distracted the kids while the parents received the gifts from the back door.

“My favorite part of this was experiencing the fun and excitement of getting to shop out in the community with the friends I’ve made in the club,” Helms said.

Laura declined to give her last name because she did not want to get any credit, but club members want her to know that they are very grateful.

“I really appreciate what you all do,” Laura said. “You guys are doing a good thing.”