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Lehi police officer Cole Peterson, left, goes to serve a drink as officer Robert Sager talks with waitress Jade Julian during the Kids, Cops and Christmas event Monday, Dec. 5, 2016, held at Texas Roadhouse in Lehi. ISAAC HALE, Daily Herald

Isaac Hale, Daily Herald

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Lehi police officer Brian Cullen serves drinks to Gail Holbrook and her husband Steve during the Kids, Cops and Christmas event Monday, Dec. 5, 2016, held at Texas Roadhouse in Lehi. ISAAC HALE, Daily Herald

Isaac Hale, Daily Herald

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Phil Wasden, chaplain for both the Lehi fire and police departments, receives instructions from a waitress as he goes to serve drinks during the Kids, Cops and Christmas event Monday, Dec. 5, 2016, held at Texas Roadhouse in Lehi. ISAAC HALE, Daily Herald

Isaac Hale, Daily Herald

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Lehi police officers Robert Sager, center left, and Ryan Hummer look on as manager Rusty Monson, right, leads other employees in an alley rally before the 5 p.m. shift during the Kids, Cops and Christmas event Monday, Dec. 5, 2016, held at Texas Roadhouse in Lehi. ISAAC HALE, Daily Herald

Isaac Hale, Daily Herald

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Lehi police officer Ryan Hummer talks with Richard Fogg, of Saratoga Springs, and others at the table during the Kids, Cops and Christmas event Monday, Dec. 5, 2016, held at Texas Roadhouse in Lehi. ISAAC HALE, Daily Herald

Isaac Hale, Daily Herald

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Lehi police officer Brian Cullen talks about the fundraiser with Andy Miller and his daughter Sage, 6, during the Kids, Cops and Christmas event Monday, Dec. 5, 2016, held at Texas Roadhouse in Lehi. ISAAC HALE, Daily Herald

Isaac Hale, Daily Herald

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Lehi police officer Ryan Hummer serves drinks to customers during the Kids, Cops and Christmas event Monday, Dec. 5, 2016, held at Texas Roadhouse in Lehi. ISAAC HALE, Daily Herald

Isaac Hale, Daily Herald

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Lehi police officer Robert Sager listens to servers in the kitchen area of the restaurant during the Kids, Cops and Christmas event Monday, Dec. 5, 2016, held at Texas Roadhouse in Lehi. ISAAC HALE, Daily Herald

Isaac Hale, Daily Herald

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Lehi police officers took a break from patrolling the streets Monday to take orders, serve food, bake rolls, wash dishes and bus tables for the annual Kids, Cops and Christmas Fundraiser.

As they worked side by side with employees of Texas Roadhouse in Lehi, the officers earned tips that will be used to help needy children in the city this Christmas.

Several officers in uniform were at the restaurant working and interacting with customers for four hours during the evening.

“We love it,” said Sgt. Bill Loveridge. “We’re providing a great dining experience,” he joked.

Loveridge said 100 percent of the money donated to the officers will be used to help families with children who need extra help during the holidays. The families will all be residents of Lehi. They are identified mostly through dealings with the officers, and each year approximately eight to 10 families are able to be helped.

That help could be presents, food, Christmas trees or whatever is needed to provide recipients with a happy holiday.

“We will deliver them,” Loveridge said.

He said the fundraiser at Texas Roadhouse is great for two reasons. One is the money earned to benefit needy children. The other is the public interaction.

While many people only have negative dealings with police officers, such as getting traffic tickets, the fundraiser is a chance to have a positive experience.

“It does a lot to break down barriers,” Loveridge said.

Officers were busy going from table to table, talking and laughing with patrons.

Children are not just benefiting from the fundraiser at the restaurant. Others will benefit because of the facial hair many Lehi officers grew during the month of November. According to Lt. Kenny Rose, officers were allowed to grow facial hair if they paid money to do so. Because of the beards, goatees and mustaches, $400 was raised, which will help fund the Shop With a Cop program.

“The greatest part is when children arrive with a wish list and you can see the names of everyone in the family and what the child would like to buy for them,” Rose said. “Their own name is last on the list and they have something simple listed, knowing there might not be much left on the card, if any at all, after purchasing the gifts for everyone else in the family.”

“It’s hard to get into the holiday mood when we deal with so many difficult situations every day,” Rose added. “But when we are able to help provide some joy to children that otherwise might not be in a position to receive gifts this year for some reason, we are better able to feel that Christmas spirit ourselves.”