Police, firefighters host Christmas shopping spree

The hardest part often is persuading the kids to buy something for themselves.

Given a $100 Target shopping spree, many of the north-metro kids want to buy cereal, clothing, other essentials and gifts for family.

But their shopping buddies — north-metro police officers, sheriff's deputies and firefighters — gently nudged the kids toward the toy aisles to buy at least one item for themselves.

Last week, 48 children took part in the fifth annual Heroes and Helpers Christmas shopping event at the SuperTarget in Blaine.

It's a chance for children to pick out presents for themselves and to learn a little about generosity by buying for their families.

"Some of those kids don't want to buy for themselves. It's so sweet," said Blaine police officer Michelle Moore, who manages the event. "I had a girl that was so excited she got to pick out a jar of pickles for her uncle. Another girl was really excited she got to give her mom a new frying pan."

Social workers from six elementary schools selected third-, fourth- and fifth-graders whose families could use a little boost this holiday season. The children were accompanied by Blaine, Lino Lakes, Fridley and Centennial Lakes police officers, Anoka County sheriff's deputies and Spring Lake Park-Blaine-Mounds View firefighters. Officers and firefighters picked up the kids in police cruisers and fire vehicles, helped them find items on a shopping list and gift-wrapped the items. The officers often ended up pushing the shopping carts as the kids led them down the aisles intent on their gift lists. Many of the children wore paper antlers, while some of the officers and firefighters wore red Santa hats or green capes.

The $5,500 event is funded entirely through donations. It expanded from 30 to 48 children this year thanks to a $3,000 donation from the nonprofit Blaine Festival, which puts on the annual city celebration around July 4th. Target also donates $2,500 plus all the food and gift wrap.

In addition to the $100 per child, Moore has a pot of $700 to pay for some necessities, including coats, socks and shoes if children show up with those items on their lists.

Spring Lake Park Schools teacher Denise Chalupnik accompanied one of her students on the shopping trip. Chalupnik said she has many students whose families struggle to make ends meet. One student lives in a homeless shelter. An opportunity for those children to set aside those worries for an afternoon and pick out holiday presents is a welcome escape.

"They absolutely love it," Chalupnik said.

Shannon Prather • 612-673-4804