SOUTH BEND, Ind.-- The "elficers" from the South Bend Police Department and Fraternal Order of Police are getting into the spirit of Christmas.

Today officers gathered together to distribute clothes, gifts, toys, and necessities across Michiana to families in need.

The families were chosen by recommendations from officers or remembered from events over the past year.

The gifts themselves all came from donations from officers, their fundly page, FOP #36, and the community.

This is an annual event FOP #36 is proud to be apart of, and even prouder to share with their community when many would go without this holiday season.

After organizing the gifts that were hand picked, wrapped, and donated the officers filled up their blue and white "sleighs" to and deliver the gifts to the families they recommended or knew.

You could see the joy on the kids faces as they saw a friendly face sharing Christmas with them wrapped up in ribbons and bows.

Even more though, the officers were beaming with holiday joy as they were able to take this Christmas Eve and make it one the families and themselves will never forget.