Two RCMP officers and the owner of a retail store in Trail, B.C. helped make Christmas morning a little brighter for two young girls in foster care.

The three men sought out and gave gifts to the two girls after they were sent to foster care late Christmas Eve.

"Between the three of them, they certainly went above and beyond to make sure Santa came for these two young children this Christmas," said RCMP spokesperson Cpl. Dan Moskaluk.

In a news release, RCMP said Const. Chris Elwood and Const. Mike Flewelling from Trail RCMP were called to check on the well-being of the two girls at a home on Christmas Eve.

When the officers arrived, they realized they would have to send the girls away with a social worker to a foster home that night.

Knowing the girls wouldn't have any gifts to open Christmas morning at their new home, they started looking for stores that were open and even searched for suitable gifts within their own homes.

They were unsuccessful but ended up reaching the owner of a local Canadian Tire.

'Armfuls' of gifts

Moskaluk said the owner, Craig Latanville, opened his store to the officers and helped them find "armfuls" of gifts.

When they returned the next morning to pay for the gifts, RCMP says Lattanville told them it wasn't necessary.

Moskaluk said the officer in charge of the detachment, Sgt. Darren Oelkethey, was "touched" by what he saw and wanted to release the information to publicly to thank Lattanville for his generosity.

It was also a chance to illustrate the "heart wrenching" circumstances police sometimes face, Moskaluk said.

"You know, it shows we try and make the best of situations when we're out there doing our work and that we've got big hearts as well."