For the past 20 years, the local non-profit Holiday with a Hero has made sure that every child in the community receives a Christmas, regardless of their financial circumstances.
The program was founded in 2004 by Assistant Sheriff Daniel Gonzales and his wife, Meliah Gonzales who served as a Carson City District Court Bailiff.
In their first year, Gonzales said, they served 40 students from the Carson City School District.
This year, that number has jumped to over 200.
When asked how the event has changed over these 20 years, Gonzales said the community buy-in is the reason the event has not only been able to continue these two decades, but has grown significantly.
“The cooperation has changed — as well as the need,” Gonzales said. “Without all of these agencies and volunteers coming together, we wouldn’t be able to provide this opportunity.”
It seems each year there is a new organization or a new agency that steps up to help, and this year is no different.
For the first time since the beginning of Covid, Santa was able to return to the event in his premium style — by helicopter.
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In previous years, the helicopter has been supplied by Care Flight, but this year, a new parter came forward to offer their flight services: the Washoe County Sheriff’s Office.
“It’s part of the whole experience for the kids,” Gonzales said. “Plus it’s the next best thing to Santa’s Sleigh, which we were told we wouldn’t be able to use this year.”
When asked how he hopes the program will expand or change in the next 20 years, Gonzales said others will need to make sure the event continues.
“We may not be here in 20 years, but hopefully, people will come along to continue this tradition,” he said. “At some point, we’ll all be gone, and someone will need to take the torch and make sure it continues, to make sure these kids continue to have a Christmas.”
Carson City School District staff were also on site to provide 60 donated coats and jackets, as well as food and snacks, to children who may be without.
That way, kids could focus on buying presents for fun — not out of need.
Since the program has been going on so long, some of the first children who got to participate in Holiday with a Hero have since grown up, and made their way back to the program.
Gonzales said during a Holiday with a Hero meeting, a district employee approached him and said, “I want to help, because I was that kid. I knew I would have a Christmas because of this program.”
That individual then went on to college, gained a Master’s Degree, and returned to work at the district, helping children who are in the situation they once were.
“We’ve made it 20 years for a reason,” Gonzales said. “This event makes a difference. People donate, businesses get behind us, community leaders get behind us. The support is huge.”
Holiday with a Hero pairs local heroes from law enforcement agencies, the military, healthcare and more with students from the district who may not be able to receive a Christmas at home.
Since the first year, the program has been able to provide $350,000 to local K-8 children through community donations and fundraisers alone.
Each student is provided with $120 to purchase toys, games, sports gear, and more. More often than not though, each year many of the children choose to spend the majority of their money on others, rather than themselves, because they’re so excited to be able to buy gifts for their family members and friends.
Gonzales thanked the other participating agencies and the volunteers involved, especially those who help by offering gift wrapping services for the children’s presents each year.
“We could not do this without everyone involved,” Gonzales said. “This only exists because of our community.”
