Last Saturday, the City of Hilo witnessed a surge of early Christmas cheer as the annual Heroes and Helpers event took place at the local Target store. According to the information provided by the Hawai‘i Police Department, the event, which draws inspiration from the "Shop with a Cop" program, aims to strengthen the ties between law enforcement, financially disadvantaged children, known locally as "keiki," and the broader community. This year's gathering was touted as a major success, featuring protagonists from various law enforcement and first responder agencies, all joining forces with Catholic Charities in this benevolent endeavor.
Throughout the event, children were to closely interact with representatives from the Hawai‘i Police Department, Hawai‘i State Sheriff’s Department, and several other agencies, an effort to build trust and forge bonds over shared festive experiences. These keiki had the opportunity to select Christmas presents with the help of a $125 gift card provided for the occasion. While the undercurrent of the event was one of merriment and joviality, the focus remained to ensure each child felt the warmth of the season and the support of their community. After the children had made their selections, volunteers were on hand to wrap the gifts, preparing them for the Christmas fest.
"It was wonderful to see the joy on the kids' faces while they bonded with the heroes," said Lieutenant William Derr, who leads the Hawai‘i Police Department’s Hilo Community Policing Section, as mentioned in the police report. The event also served as an opportunity for new police recruits, called 'helpers,' to engage in community service, with one recruit expressing their newfound dedication to volunteerism: "I’m hooked, I’ll be volunteering every year!"
The festivities culminated with the distribution of bentos to the participating children, a gesture to neatly wrap up the joyous day. Lieutenant Derr articulated his gratitude for the cooperation and the selfless nature of the event's participants, remarking upon the true essence of the holiday season. "It was an honor to work with so many selfless people in organizing the event," Derr observed, "and a reminder of what the holidays are all about," as noted in the police report.
