DANVILLE, Ill. — This holiday season, Santa Claus wasn’t the only one sharing the gift of giving. Police officers in eastern Illinois got in on the fun, too.

Officer Danielle Lewallen, Mayor Scott Eisenhauer, Director of Public Safety Larry Thomason and other Danville, Illinois police officers traveled throughout the city Tuesday morning, stopping random cars, shoppers and pedestrians to surprise them with gifts of gratitude just in time for Christmas this year.

About 30 gifts, each containing $100 bills, were given out Tuesday, all paid for by the Danville Police Association Charitable Organization and Illinois Police Benevolent and Protective Association Unit 11, with the support of the Danville Police Department.

In the letter enclosed with each gift, recipients were told they were free to use the money as they wished, “and by all means if you feel the need, you may re-gift it to a person or family you feel could use it.”

In previous years, gift-giving traffic stops have become popular. A video showcasing drivers receiving gifts instead of tickets in Lowell, Michigan went viral in 2014.

Lewallen said that as a patrol officer, most of the contacts with the community are under negative pretenses.

“We need more positive contacts, not just on the street, but everybody to know there are positive contacts,” she said.

She added she loved doing community policing.

Eisenhauer said he was proud of the officers, who have done an amazing job of going out into the community and form more positive communication.

As Lewallen stopped the lucky recipients and told them were doing everything right, the recipients shared stories of what they planned to do with the pleasant surprise.

Jessica Keen and Ryan McCoy were the first to be stopped. Keen said she planned to use the money to buy her mother Christmas gifts.

Next, Lewallen pulled over a look-alike of Saint Nick himself, although driving a red truck not a red sleigh with reindeer. Wilbur Cook, wearing a signature red stocking cap, said it wasn’t the first time he was stopped in his festive attire.

He said he was once pulled over while driving an 18-wheeler, and the officer told him he just couldn’t write Santa Claus a ticket and still face his kids.

Ubaldo Cruz was stopped outside Presence United Samaritans Medical Center dropping off his wife for an appointment, and was certainly happy about the surprise. He said he didn’t have much gas left in his car, and the money would help.

Alicia Sandoval, shopping with her daughter Zoey, said the gift helps a lot, especially since she is a single mom with four kids.

Vickie Hayward, also shopping for her family, was shocked by the surprise, and didn’t know what to say.

And Susan Winkler, with her mother, Marie Moore, immediately donated her $100 bill to the Salvation Army kettle outside of County Market on North Vermilion Street. She said she was glad for the opportunity to pass the gift forward.

Denison writes for the Danville, Illinois Commercial-News.