By Jeff Munson
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Carson City Sheriff’s Tri-Net Deputy Dan Jones helps this little lady shop for dolls. Photo by Cathleen Allison of Nevada Photo Source. -
Santa Claus arrived by Care Flight to 190 school children from Carson City. -
Carson City Sheriff’ Sgt. Daniel Gonzales helps pass out $100 gift cards to children and volunteers. -
At least 190 Carson City school children were able to participate in this year’s Holiday with a Hero. Photo by Jeff Munson -
Carson City District Attorney elect Jason Woodbury helped this girl pick out a toy, shoes and clothing. -
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Carson City sheriff’s deputy Jeff Pullen with K9 Rex helps this girl pick out a toy. -
The Advanced Dentistry team arrived to volunteer at Wednesday’s event. -
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Home for the holidays from Kodiak, Alaska, Austin Bartosz takes two children shopping. -
Chris Graham, internship coordinator for Western Nevada College, helps prepare refreshments for the kids. -
The event even had music courtesy of Justin Thistle of Carson City.
The 10th annual Holiday with a Hero was held Wednesday at Walmart in Carson City with 190 school children from kindergarten through fifth grade having a Christmas to call their own, thanks to the astounding response from Carson City donors and volunteers.
Nearly 300 volunteers were at the event to help the Carson City area school children shop at Walmart using gift cards paid for by donations from around the community. Each child was given a $100 gift card and paired with a “hero” to spend on clothing, shoes and a toy.
More than $20,000 was raised for the event, clinching the goal organizers had set out to make sure Carson City’s most impoverished school children had a Christmas. Last year, around $14,000 was raised and 168 children were given holiday cards of $90 to spend.
“If I had to sum it up I was say this is what Carson City is all about. Whether it is families or strangers doing what they can, donating time and money,” said Sgt. Daniel Gonzales, who spearheaded the effort through the Carson City Sheriff’s Office. “Today the heroes are our children, our volunteers and our community.”
As the tradition goes, Santa Claus arrived by Care Flight helicopter in the side parking lot of Walmart. After the helicopter had safely landed, Santa was greeted by Gonzales, Carson City Mayor Bob Crowell and Carson City School District Superintendent Richard Stokes.
Santa then took a brief walk from the parking lot where the children were waiting, and were calling his name “Santa Claus” in unison. To watch the rest unfold, you had to be there. But the kids rushed Santa Claus as is part of the tradition, who offered great big hugs, smiles and holiday greetings.
From there, Santa walked into the store and it was then that the “Heroes” took over, each getting a gift card, a shopping cart, and were introduced to a child who had with them their Christmas wish list, which included what they needed as for clothing and shoes — provided with the help of their parents and teachers based on their needs. And when it came to picking the toys, the kids were all on their own for what they wanted.
The Holiday with a Hero project pairs children with law enforcement officers, firefighters, members of the U.S. military and public officials, school district and community volunteers. The event provided each child the gift cards to shop for things they need such as clothing and shoes as well as a toy to call their own. Money was collected in the Carson City community through various fundraisers held during the year.
This year, fundraising efforts started off slow but began to pick up right around Thanksgiving all the way up to hours before Wednesday’s event began.
The 190 school children who were able to shop were chosen from the Carson City School District’s “Students in Transition” Program; these students are homeless, living in shelters, motel rooms or with several family members and extended family members in one dwelling.
