MONROE, N.C. -- At 8 p.m. sharp on Christmas Eve, police officers stood outside the doors of the Walmart as crowds streamed out, turning shoppers away.
"Sorry, Walmart is closed," they said.
It was closed -- to the general public, at least. But at 8 p.m., it was just opening for a group of kids and their families who would find magic inside.
Every year, for the last 10 years, the organization "Hometown Heroes" has invited kids with serious illnesses to Walmart in Monroe for an all-out, guilt-free Christmas Eve shopping spree.
Every child gets $500 to spend on whatever they'd like.
"I have my eye on an LCD 32-inch," 14-year-old Zach Martin told NewsChannel 36. Martin is a veteran of the program. 2010 was his 10th year participating.
'We started out helping one kid," said the group's president, Donnie Dixon. "We didn't realize it, but we were talking the other day -- we've helped 70 something families."
Most of the money raised comes from selling Christmas trees at Christmastime. The group also raises money year-round to help the families they serve with their year-round needs.
"They found out about [Sarah] and just kind of took her under their wing," Kim Porter explained.
Her 3-year-old daughter Sarah was born with benign tumors called hemangiomas on her face. They grow at such a fast rate, they can cut off basic functions like sight, smell, and the ability to breathe. The surgeries she needs to remove them are only available in New York City.
"They've been great," Kim Porter said. "I mean really, really great."
This Christmas Eve, Sarah wandered Walmart with her parents and grandparents in tow, grabbing dolls -- Barbies are a favorite -- and even picking up toys for her little sister Riley.
Her mother Kim says her illness has been practically her whole life. This Christmas Eve was just Christmas Eve -- all-out, guilt-free fun.
