For the last few years the Moose Jaw Police Service has teamed up with the Moose Jaw Kinsmen Club to put smiles on the faces of elementary school students during the Christmas season.  

This year classes from King George and St.Michael schools were chosen as the recipients to participate in the event. 

"It's an idea that I came up with, the United States (detachments) have done something very similar, so I thought it would be fun for us to do," Sgt. Trish Seman with the local police service explains. "Basically what happens is the police service gets to set up to set up a Christmas store in two of the elementary schools in town and kids get to shop for their parents. They get to give thanks to their parents for everything that they've done throughout the year."

The classes are brought into their school's gymnasium and sift through tables of gifts, wrap the chosen items and create Christmas cards, all with the help of volunteer officers.

"For me and I think the other officers that get involved it's about the fact that giving is sometimes better than receiving. We live in a day and age where kids get a lot, and I think it's really important for them to sit back and thank their caregivers. The caregivers in their lives have done so much for them, mom, dad, grandma, grandpa, aunts or uncles and I really wanted them to show respect and be thankful."

Sgt. Seman added that the opportunity is made possible each year with their important partnership. 

"We are very fortunate, the Kinsmen Club teams up with us every year and has for the 3 years that we've been doing this. They donate the money for us to go buy the gifts, without them this program couldn't run."

Grades 1, 3 and 4 were selected from the pair of schools and now have gifts to put under the tree for their families.