HILO – December 10, 2022 –

Bringing gifts and holiday joy to area teens and young children, Catholic Charities Hawaii (CCH), Hilo TARGET Store, and various first responder agencies held its second annual “Heroes and Helpers” event this morning.

This year’s event at the Target Hilo store was the largest to date with a total of 68 young participants. With this year’s focus primarily with keiki and youth residing in the Hilo district, this special event brings much needed joy during the holidays, while fostering positive relationships between the youth and the officers and other first responders.

The children were partnered with members of the Hawaii Police Department, Hawaii Fire Department, Hawaii Air National Guard, DLNR, and other agencies. Each youth was given a $100 Target gift card made possible through donations from Catholic Charities Hawaii, Target Corporation, and other listed below:

Heroes:

• Hawaii Police Department – HPD
• Hawaii Fire Department – HFD
• Hawaii Air National Guard
• Hawaii Army National Guard
• State Department of Land and Natural Resources (DLNR)
• Sheriffs Department of Hilo
• Hawaii Prosecuting Attorney Kelden Waltjen

Helpers / Volunteers:

• Target Stores
• Catholic Charities Hawaii
• Hawaiian Electric
• Starbucks
• Office of Prosecuting Attorney Kelden Waltjen
• DLNR 2022 Recruitment Class
• Just Serve Hawaii
• VFW Post 3875
• Hawaii Police Department

Donors: 

• Target Stores
• Catholic Charities Hawaii
• Hawaiian Electric
• Veterans of Foreign Wars Hilo Post 3875
• S. Tokunaga Store
• Punaluu Bakery
• Kawamoto Store
• Starbucks
• Waiakea Water
• Joycelyn Photography