DALTON, Ga. — Rosa Rios said the Santa in Uniform event is just what she needed to provide Christmas gifts for her 6-year-old son Caleb.

“I really needed this help,” she said.

Caleb, a student at Eastside Elementary School, and 23 other children spent Wednesday afternoon shopping at the Wal-Mart on East Walnut Avenue with Whitfield County firefighters as part of the firefighters’ annual Santa in Uniform effort. The children were from the Whitfield County Schools system and were identified by social workers or counselors as needing assistance.

Jesse Bond, an engineer with the fire department and coordinator of the event, said 27 firefighters volunteered to shop with the children. Bond said the money was raised as part of Team Up for Kids.

“We team up with the local Shriners chapter by doing boot drives,” he said. “Their portion of the boot drive fund goes to the hospital and our portion goes to this event and other fire prevention programs.”

Firefighters collect money in boots at area intersections at certain times of the year. This year they raised enough for $100 per child. Wal-Mart offered an additional 25 percent off each purchase.

The children were required to buy at least one outfit or a pair of shoes and the rest could be used on whatever the child wanted.

Haley Tatham chose a red Santa dress. A fifth-grader at Dawnville Elementary, she said shopping with firefighter Joey Splawn was fun.

“It’s great to be able to help kids who are unable to get what they want for Christmas or anything at all,” Splawn said. “This is awesome, being a firefighter is more than just fighting fires. It’s getting out and helping the community, whether it’s adults or children.”

Store manager Rick Bartlett said his staff members were making sure the children were taken care of.

“We appreciate what they do, they are awesome,” he said of the firefighters. “In addition to taking care of our community they take care of our kids and that’s great.”

The store provided juice and cookies for the kids once they were finished shopping.

Brayden Parks, a second-grader at Eastside Elementary, said he enjoyed getting clothes and a toy jeep and seeing Santa. Earlier in the day, Walnut Square Mall hosted the firefighters and the students. Each child got a picture made with Santa courtesy of mall management.

Firefighter Johnathan Wakefield said they had a good day.

“It was lots of fun,” he said.

Bond said the event gives everyone a “good feeling.”

“It’s fun for all the personnel and kids involved,” he said. “Everyone really seems to enjoy getting out and making Christmas special for these children.”