Carson City Sheriff’s Office, school district launches 11th Holiday with a Hero campaign
With 10 weeks before Christmas, the Carson City Sheriff’s Office this week officially launched its 11th annual Holiday with a Hero campaign. This community wide program is designed to give homeless Carson City area children a Christmas experience by providing them gift cards to spend on themselves prior to the holiday.
Last year nearly 200 students received $100 gift cards for the organized shopping spree at Walmart, said Carson City Sheriff’s Office Sgt. Dan Gonzales, who co-organizes the event with the Carson City School District and other agencies.
The program is designed around the generosity of Carson City citizens and their donations, said Gonzales. Last year, the program met its $20,000 goal within hours of the shopping spree. Getting the word out early will help in this year’s fundraising effort, with 190 kids already identified for the Holiday with a Hero program, said Gonzales.
The Holiday with a Hero project pairs children from pre-kindergartens through 5th grade with law enforcement officers, firefighters, members of the U.S. military and public officials, school district and community volunteers. The event provides each child gift cards to shop for things they need such as clothing and shoes as well as a toy to call their own.
The students have been identified as part of the McKinney-Vento program through the Carson City School District. This program helps children who’s families are identified as homeless, living in shelters, motel rooms and not having permanent homes, said Peggy Sweetland, special projects coordinator and McKinney-Vento students in transition liaison for the Carson City School District.
The McKinney-Vento Education of Homeless Children and Youth Assistance Act is a federal law that ensures immediate enrollment and educational stability for homeless children and youth. McKinney-Vento provides federal funding to states for the purpose of supporting district programs that serve homeless students.
On giving day, Dec. 16, the children will again be paired with volunteers who will lead them on the shopping spree. Santa Claus is brought to Walmart via Care Flight, where the children meet with him and then shop with volunteers using the gift cards. The children are encouraged to buy necessities plus they can use the card to buy a toy for themselves. Last year more than 300 people volunteered for the event.
Also continuing this year, is a collaboration with the Salvation Army which identifies older children who are also under the McKinney-Vento program. These pre-teen and teenage children are given gift cards through the Salvation Army, where they can be spent buying necessities and Christmas gifts for themselves. There are nearly 400 Carson City students from pre-kindergarden through 12th grade who have been identified as needing assistance through the McKinney-Vento program, said Sweetland.
The program is in need of monetary donations. The community is urged to bring their donations to the following locations between the hours of 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. Make checks payable to Holiday with a Hero.
— The Carson City Sheriff’s Office administration building, 911 East Musser Street.
— The Carson City School District office, 1402 West King Street or send to PO Box 603, Carson City, 89702.
— Bank of the West, 2976 N Carson St, Carson City between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m.
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