In about an hour, 96 keiki found their perfect Christmas gifts during the third annual Heroes and Helpers event at the Hilo Target store early Saturday morning.
About 190 volunteers from several organizations spent their Saturday morning taking keiki on a shopping spree as part of the annual community outreach event.
Heroes and Helpers is coordinated by Catholic Charities Hawaii and is a collaborative event meant to bring holiday joy to teens and children during the holidays.
Children were partnered with heroes such as members of the Hawaii Police Department, Hawaii Fire Department, Hawaii Air National Guard, the Department of Land and Natural Resources and other agencies as the keiki shopped using $100 Target gift cards.
“This was my first year participating, and what a worthy and worthwhile cause,” said Deputy Fire Chief Eric Moller. “It’s fantastic to be able to give back to the community and to show that (first responders) aren’t people kids should be scared of. They can always call on us.”
Heroes and Helpers began in Target stores across the country in 2009 as a way to help foster stronger relationships and connections between kids and police.
“This is a perfect opportunity to come out and support families. It’s a really good thing that I wish we could do more often for more kids,” said HPD Capt. Rio Amon-Wilkins.
David Kurohara, the Hawaii Island chair for Catholic Charities Hawaii, has organized the project each year and was excited to see a record-breaking number of volunteers.
“We had so many volunteers that everyone only needed to shop with keiki for one round. I would say we did this in record time,” Kurohara said. “This is the biggest the event has been, and it will just keep growing from here.”
“I think even if I’m outside the fire service, I’d love to do this every year,” Moller said. “Everyone walks away a winner when we give back to our community.”
Donors for the event included Target, Catholic Charities Hawaii, Hawaiian Electric, Veterans of Foreign Wars Hilo Post 3830, Matson, Punaluu Bakery, Kawamoto Store, Starbucks, Waiakea Water, Ed Olson Trust, American Savings Bank, Hawaii Island Food Basket, KTA Super Stores and Creative Arts Hawaii.
For more information on Heroes and Helpers and other programs held through the year, visit catholiccharitieshawaii.org.
Email Kelsey Walling at kwalling@hawaiitribune-herald.com.