Many of the 75 boys and girls eating the Christmas cookies at Trinity Lutheran Church in Lancaster on Saturday had seen the images of anger directed at police because of the shooting of an unarmed man in Ferguson, Missouri, and the death of a man by chokehold in New York City.

On this day, though, more than 40 local men and women in blue were taking the kids down aisles at a local Wal-Mart, pushing shopping carts and encouraging them to spend $100 each on Christmas gifts for themselves and relatives.

The shopping spree, and gift wrapping and lunch afterward at the church, was part of Trinity’s fifth annual Shop with a Cop event.

All of the kids have been impacted by the criminal justice system in some way. They were chosen by Crispus Attucks Community Center and The Mix at Arbor Place.

When the 7-year-old boy assigned to Lancaster city police Officer Will Smith exceeded his limit after buying a bike, a monster truck, a board game and a doll for his sister, Smith pulled out his wallet and made sure the boy wouldn’t be riding the bike without a helmet.

“To me, this is just as important as patrolling the streets,” said Smith, who was participating for the fourth time.

“This is about building relationships. They get to see us as regular people, like being dads. They will remember the police officers who took them shopping and treated them with respect when they become teenagers or adults.

“I can’t tell you how many times walking the streets that kids won’t look at me or talk back. This program helps build the bridge between the community and police.”

Said Patty Corll, wife of city police Sgt. Ray Corll and an event organizer, “This event is designed specifically to get police and kids to get to know each other as people and stop looking at police as stereotypes.

“Because it’s awfully hard to hate someone you know.”

On two floors, more than 100 volunteers from the church, Junior League of Lancaster, Lancaster County-Wide Communications and the community wrapped presents for the kids to take home and put under the Christmas tree. Among them was Marisol Bonilla.

Sign up for our newsletter Success! An email has been sent with a link to confirm list signup. Error! There was an error processing your request.

Two years ago, two of her children were taken shopping by police. The children’s father is in prison.

Bonilla, 33, was so moved that she now volunteers as a translator, and her two children were just down the wrapping line, putting on name tags and bows.

“I think it’s awesome,” she said of the church program. “It makes me real emotional. It makes me feel good to participate. They always knew police are here to help us. But now they see police are not just here to go out and catch the bad guys.”

After dropping off the presents to be wrapped, state troopers, police from the city and surrounding police departments, as well as the Lancaster County’s Sheriff’s Department — all wearing blue Santa hats — ate and joked over a festive lunch while a woman played a steady stream of Christmas carols on a piano.

Zachary White, 10, sitting next to Deputy Sheriff Scott Maxey, was asked his opinion of police.

“They’re nice,” he said, adding, “I thought they were mean and selfish when I was 4.”

It’s surprising — and heartening — that many of the kids spend most of their gift money for family members and relatives, Corll said.

Indeed, a trio of volunteers was wrapping a bundle of gifts chosen by a brother and sister. There was a set of food containers for grandmother, a tool set for an uncle, a water bottle for Mom and a chisel set and shaving cream for Dad. Presumably, the siblings bought something for themselves, but the wrappers hadn’t seen it.

Most of the $100 gift allotments per kid came from the pockets of Trinity congregation members, as well as some donations from the community.

“It’s amazing,” said Tasha Genck Morton, associate pastor of the church, surveying the noisy diners.

“You could just see the joy radiating off of the kids and police. It doesn’t feel forced. They’re all sitting together and mingling. What a great experience.”