The Ballard Center partnered for the second year with the Douglas County Sheriff’s Office, Lawrence Police Department, the Kansas State Highway Patrol and KU Office of Public Safety in T.O.Y.S. (Take Our Youth Shopping) that provided an early Christmas for 40 of the children attending the Early Education programs. Officers had breakfast with the children and then went on a shopping trip with the children to Wal-mart. The shopping part of this project was funded by Hallmark Cards and McDonalds donated breakfast for all the children and officers, with the buses provided by First Student.

photo by: Mike Yoder

Lawrence police officer Aaron Hachmeister, right, and Ballard .Ballard Community Service Early Education participant Jacob, have breakfast together Friday at McDonalds, 4911 W. 6th Street. The Ballard Center partnered for the second year with the Douglas County Sheriffs Office, Lawrence Police Department, the Kansas State Highway Patrol and KU Office of Public Safety in T.O.Y.S. (Take Our Youth Shopping) that provided an early Christmas for 40 of the children attending the Early Education programs.

photo by: Mike Yoder

Douglas County Sheriffs detective Jay Armbrister, left, sits with Taryn and Amya, children in the Ballard Community Service Early Education program, as the three have breakfast together Friday at McDonalds, 4911 W. 6th Street. Officers had breakfast with the children and then went on a shopping trip with the children to Wal-mart. The shopping part of this project was funded by Hallmark Cards and McDonalds donated breakfast for all the children and officers, with the buses provided by First Student.

photo by: Mike Yoder

Children in the Ballard Community Service Early Education program look out the window of their bus as they spot the officers they will be paired with for a shopping spree at the 6th Street Wal-mart store Friday. The Ballard Center partnered for the second year with the Douglas County Sheriffs Office, Lawrence Police Department, the Kansas State Highway Patrol and KU Office of Public Safety in T.O.Y.S. (Take Our Youth Shopping) that provided an early Christmas for 40 of the children attending the Early Education programs. Officers had breakfast with the children and then went on a shopping trip with the children to Wal-mart. The shopping part of this project was funded by Hallmark Cards and McDonalds donated breakfast for all the children and officers, with the buses provided by First Student.

photo by: Mike Yoder

Lawrence police officer Amy Price shops Friday, Dec. 20, with Serenity, center, and Adrianna, both, in the Ballard Community Service Early Education program. The Ballard Center partnered for the second year with the Douglas County Sheriffs Office, Lawrence Police Department, the Kansas State Highway Patrol and KU Office of Public Safety in T.O.Y.S. (Take Our Youth Shopping) that provided an early Christmas for 40 of the children attending the Early Education programs. Officers had breakfast with the children and then went on a shopping trip with the children to Wal-mart. The shopping part of this project was funded by Hallmark Cards and McDonalds donated breakfast for all the children and officers, with the buses provided by First Student.

photo by: Mike Yoder

Lawrence police officer Brad Johnson high-fives Ballard Community Service Early Education participant Michael during a shopping trip to Wal-mart Friday during the T.O.Y.S. (Take Our Youth Shopping) event.