Heroes and Helpers Event Reaches Out to Keiki in Need
Heroes and Helpers Event Reaches Out to Keiki in Need
Catholic Charities Hawaii’s Annual Shop with a Cop event looked very different this year at the Hilo Target Store. Due to COVID-19 the event pivoted to a drive-thru, contactless affair and was renamed “Heroes and Helpers, held this past Saturday, December 5 to bring together 63 children and their families who are facing hardships.
The event is a collaborative endeavor of Catholic Charities Hawai‘i, TARGET, Hawaii Island Police Department, Hawaii Island National Guard and our many community partners, volunteers and supporters who came together to continue this effort during these unprecedented times.
Each youth provided their wish list and shopping was done by volunteer elves. Participants and their families drove up to receive their gifts and other surprises from community partners.
Thirty Hawaii Police Department officers and Twenty Hawaii Air National Guard members participated. And the youth also had the opportunity to personally meet local hero Kolton Wong of the St. Louis Cardinals who generously made a donation to provide holiday cheer for 10 youth!
This event was made possible by generous donors and volunteers which included: Target Stores, Catholic Charities Hawaii, Hawaii Police Department, SHOPO, Hawaii Air National Guard 291 Combat Communications Squadron, JustServe: The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, Salvation Army Hilo Temple Corp., Veterans of Foreign Wars Hilo Post 3875, HEI Charitable Foundation, Kolton and Alissa Wong, Kean Wong, Edmund Olson Trust/ Ka`u Coffee,Craig Higaki, S. Tokunaga Store, Kawamoto Lunch Shop, Big Island Delights, OK Farms, Hana Laulima Lahui O Ka`u, Punalu`u Bakery, four anonymous donor families, Prime Footage Hawaii and Office Max.
This is just one of the many ways Catholic Charities Hawaii provides support and outreach to children and families in need through over 30 programs statewide. Help us make a difference and consider making a holiday donation to help us continue our efforts to provide help and hope to people in need throughout the year.