Christmas came early for one Red River Parish student who had just three minutes to fill a shopping cart with as many gifts as possible.

Eight-year-old Tommy Anderson, an honor roll student at Red River Elementary School, was selected as the first winner of the 2026 KTBS 3-Minute Smile holiday shopping program.

Tommy earned the opportunity after bringing home an outstanding report card. His reward was a trip to Walmart, where he had 180 seconds to race through the aisles and grab items from his Christmas wish list.

Before the clock started, Tommy had a few things in mind. He hoped to pick up a hoverboard and a Nerf gun, but he also wanted to make sure his siblings received Christmas presents.

Once the countdown began, Tommy wasted no time making his way through the toy department, gathering gifts as quickly as he could.

When the three minutes were up, his shopping cart held $1,488.83 worth of merchandise, giving him nearly $1,500 in Christmas gifts to take home.

The shopping spree was made possible by Aire Serv, which sponsored Tommy’s participation in the annual KTBS holiday tradition.

The 3-Minute Smile program gives children throughout the Ark-La-Tex an opportunity to enjoy a memorable Christmas shopping experience, with local businesses helping make the special moments possible.

For Tommy, his hard work in the classroom paid off in a big way. And while the shopping spree was certainly exciting, his desire to include his siblings made the experience even more special.

KTBS 3 News featured Tommy’s shopping adventure. Readers can watch the segment at KTBS.com.

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