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SOUTH POINT — On Friday two families got Christmas a few days early when they were chosen to be part of the inaugural “Shop with a Cop,” conducted by the Ohio State Highway Patrol Ironton Post.

“We picked South Point Elementary and asked from their recommendation for two families with three children each,” Trooper Tiffiany Coriell, of the post said.

The ages of the children ranged from 10 to 2. Both families met with the troopers at the Wal-Mart SuperCenter in South Point who escorted the parents and children through the store as they made selections that ranged from the practical such as sheets and blankets to toys.

The post was able to do the shopping event from donations from post personnel and the Ride With a Cop charity of the Huntington Police Department that helps Tri-State families.

“We are always interested in doing things for the community,” Coriell said. “That is what our job is to serve the people of the state. We are really excited about it … to see the faces on the children.”

On Saturday the Ironton City Center was the site of a special early Christmas dinner that Julia Jones and her sister, Suzy Bryant, of Café Suzie Q and the Upper Volunteer Fire Department put on for about 100 children.

Jones, Bryant and the fire department went together to run a Toys for Tots drive and the dinner was where the toys were distributed to each child via a special appearance from Santa Claus.

The dinner featured seven turkeys and five hams and each child got a toy. After all the toys were distributed, parents were able to do some extra Christmas shopping for their families from the remaining items.