RUTHERFORD COUNTY, TN - Eleven-year-old Jace couldn’t wait to ride his new mountain bike. “I’ll be zooming down my neighborhood,” Jace promised his SRO Dave Victor at Roy Waldron Elementary School in La Vergne.

VA Police Officer Greg McNeill, who accompanied Victor and Jake, said Jace wanted a smaller bike but they convinced him to choose a larger one that would last a few years.

Jace was one of about 30 students who participated in the annual Shop with the Sheriff event and their SROs Saturday at Walmart on Old Fort Parkway.

VA Police Officer Melissa Engels and SRO Mike Farmer shopped with Mackenzie, who wanted to buy presents for her six older brothers. “It was super sweet,” Engels said.

SROs helped students from Rutherford County Schools choose presents for themselves with many of the children sharing gifts with siblings and parents.

Sheriff’s Citizens Academy alumni volunteers to take about 30 Rutherford County Schools’ students Christmas shopping Saturday at Walmart on Old Fort Parkway.

SROs were able to take the children shopping because of the generous donations from Toot’s, who sponsored a fund-raiser at the three Murfreesboro restaurants, Toot’s corporate office, employees and customers, community members and Walmart.

Sheriff Mike Fitzhugh and the Sheriff’s Office thank Toot’s, everyone who donated, Walmart, Sheriff’s Citizens Academy Alumni Association members and the Sheriff’s Cadets who donated their time and the SROs and Sheriff’s Office deputies. “Know that your contributions will help these students experience Christmas joy,” Fitzhugh said.

Again, this year's Shop with the Sheriff program was made possible because of the annual fundraiser that was held at Toot's Good Food and Fun. See the story about the fundraising efforts HERE.