Carson City's Holiday with a Hero fundraiser brings 'Feast with a Hero' Saturday to Slot World

Heading into its 16th year of giving Carson City schoolchildren living without permanent homes a Christmas for themselves and their family, Holiday with a Hero is upon us and so is the need for the community's financial support.

Created by Carson City Sheriff's Office Sgt. Daniel Gonzales and his wife Meliah, the program pairs 250 school children with uniformed members of law enforcement, fire departments, military and others for a Christmas shopping experience.

The children are those who are in transition, under the school district's McKinney-Vento program. This applies to kids who lack fixed, regular and adequate homes.

"These children are in living situations where they can be doubled with friends or relatives, or are living in motels, shelters, transitional housing, and in some cases in parked cars or camping in tents," said Peggy Sweetland, special projects coordinator and McKinney-Vento liaison for the Carson City School District. She has helped coordinate the program on behalf of the Carson City School District for 11 years alongside Daniel and Meliah Gonzales.

Holiday with a Hero is a Christmas shopping experience for the children. Each are given a $100 Walmart gift card to use, where they can buy something for their parents and siblings, some necessities like clothing or shoes, and a toy for themselves. This year's event will be Wednesday, Dec. 18, from 9 to noon at Walmart in Carson City. The event brings hundreds of volunteers, most of whom are in uniform, and a visit from Santa Claus.

"It's a magical day for these children," said Sweetland.

Holiday with a Hero is a program that is supported through the financial generosity of Carson City locals and businesses, with a fundraising goal of $25,000 annually.

The program generates donations through three fundraisers, one which happens this Saturday, Nov. 30. "Feast for a Hero" will be held at Slot World Casino in Carson City. With this fundraiser, the casino generously donates proceeds from restaurant sales to Holiday with a Hero.

This Saturday's event runs from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. with daylong breakfast, lunch and dinner specials, uniformed servers, fire trucks, and meet and greets. The dining event takes place at Slot World's Betsy's Big Kitchen, 3879 Highway 50 East. The fundraiser counts for any meal of the day.

"It's a great event to bring the family in especially to start the day off with breakfast," said Meliah Gonzales. "You can come on down, have a delicious meal, meet some of our police and firefighters, tour their trucks and vehicles and know that 100 percent of your dining experience dollars goes to Holiday with a Hero."

The following Saturday is the organization's fundraiser for adults, a Holiday Crawl, on Saturday, Dec. 7 at several downtown Carson City restaurants and bars. The crawl is $20 in advance, $25 the day of the event, with all the money going to Holiday with a Hero. With the ticket, friends receive a map and a wristband where they can walk to several Carson City bars and restaurants, which are offering discounted food and beverage specials.

"This has become a favorite event for many because it's continuing the holiday festivities downtown from Friday night into Saturday night. It's a way for people to celebrate and know that the cost of their ticket is going straight to Holiday with a Hero and the kids who benefit from it," said Sgt. Daniel Gonzales.

Check in begins at 4 p.m. at The Studio 177 W. Proctor, must be 21 to participate. You can register there or pre-register online. To sign up go to bit.ly/HolidayCrawlCarson and scroll to Holiday with a Hero.

The final fundraising effort is continuous, and it is donations made by Carson City residents and businesses. Raising $25,000 is no small task, but Carson City has come through with their generosity and support, said Sgt. Gonzales.

"It's our children and our community and our people here in Carson City recognizing the need for these kids," he said.

Meliah Gonzales notes she was contacted recently by a parent of a child who was a recipient of the program, who gave her $20 and told her that Holiday with a Hero was there for her child, and that she will give whatever she can, whenever she can.

Another Carson City resident, who works in a bank, told Meliah she was was a Holiday with a Hero shopper 15 years ago. She told her employer about the experience, which then turned around and donated $1,000 to Holiday with a Hero in her name.

"The positive impact it had on her carried all this time and she's now turned around and is doing what she can to help us continue," said Meliah. "It's very touching."

To donate go to holidaywithahero.com here. Donations can also be taken directly to Bank of the West, 2976 N Carson St. Follow on Facebook here for Holiday Crawl updates, fundraising activities, donors and more.