DECATUR - Five-year-old Troy Patterson was so excited Saturday he couldn't stop hopping from foot to foot as Terra McKenzie wheeled a shopping cart toward a checkout lane at the northside Wal-Mart Supercenter.

"I got a lot of things," Troy declared at the top of his voice, "a Barney movie, a coat, pajamas and a bubble gum machine. My legs are tired."

McKenzie, president of Decatur Firefighters Local 505 Auxiliary, was one of more than 20 volunteers who shopped either with a child or for a child as part of the firefighters' third annual Christmas shopping spree with youngsters whose families are enrolled in Homeward Bound, a program of transitional housing and support services for the homeless administered by Dove Inc.

Nineteen children accompanied firefighters on the shopping trip while gifts were purchased for five others who were too young to tag along, said Micah Wakeman, Local 505 vice president and coordinator for the project. After checking out, the children were treated to lunch at CiCi's Pizza, he said.

The local raised $1,500, received a $100 donation from Decatur City Councilman Pat Laegeler and saw that $1,600 matched by Archer Daniels Midland Co., Wakeman said. Wal-Mart donated a $100 gift card and CiCi's discounted the lunches to make the outing possible, he said.

"We're spending about $130 a kid this year," Wakeman said. "Last year we had less money but fewer kids, only 11 or 12. This year, we're buying for 24 children. If we check out and find we've gone over a little on the total, our auxiliary usually writes a check to make up the difference.

"This is a great project. It gets a lot of guys out, and the kids like it. Everyone has a blast."

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Firefighter Bill Workman was accompanied Saturday by his wife, Karen, and daughter, Danielle Jones.

"The kids need somebody to shop for them, and they get a thrill out of being with firemen," Workman said. "We get the satisfaction of helping during the (holiday) season."

Tylin Young, 9, who was shopping with firefighter Chris Bright, had a shirt and socks in his cart and was headed for the toy aisle.

"I'll shop for my cousin," Tylin said. "I'll get a board game and a toy for me."

Byron Brummel, 11, said he had selected a robe and pajamas and would get a game cartridge for a game system. "I'll probably buy something for my mom, too," he said.

Firefighter Joel Garrett and his wife, Kindra, were helping 12-year-old Keaundra Wilkins shop.

"We have two sons who are grown," Garrett said. "My wife has never had a girl to shop with and she's been looking forward to doing that."

Firefighter Matt Hinds was shopping with Kaprice Young, 8, trying to help her find the right size boots in the shoe aisle with limited success.

Asked if he was comfortable helping the little girl shop, Hinds had a ready answer: "That's why I've got a wife and a cell phone."

Ron Ingram can be reached at ringram@herald-review.com or 421-7973.