‘Heroes and Helpers’ bring holiday joy — and gifts — to keiki in need

It’s the most wonderful time of the year and what better way to celebrate than to bring holiday joy — and gifts — to keiki in need.

Catholic Charities Hawai‘i hosted its second “Heroes and Helpers” the morning of Dec. 10 at Hilo Target. The organization’s annual event was its largest to date, with a total of 68 young children and teens from the Hilo area participating.

The keiki were each given a $100 gift card and partnered with members of the Hawai‘i Police Department, Hawai‘i Fire Department, Hawai‘i Air and Army National Guard, Hawai‘i Department of Land and Natural Resources 2022 recruitment class and other “hero and helper” agencies to shop for whatever they wanted. The gift cards were made possible through donations from Catholic Charities Hawai‘i, Target Corp. and several other businesses and agencies.

“This special event brings much needed joy during the holidays while fostering positive relationships between the youth and the officers and other first responders,” said a press release from Catholic Charities Hawai‘i.

Other participating individuals, agencies, organizations and donors were:

Heroes

• Hawai‘i Department of Public Safety Sheriff Division, Hilo office.
• Hawai‘i County Prosecutor Kelden Waltjen.

Helpers/Volunteers

• Hawaiian Electric.
• Starbucks.
• Hawai‘i County Office of Prosecuting Attorney.
• Just Serve Hawai‘i.
• Veterans of Foreign Wars Hilo Post 3875.

Donors

• Hawaiian Electric.
• Veterans of Foreign Wars Hilo Post 3875.
• S. Tokunaga Store.
• Punalu‘u Bakery.
• Kawamoto Store.
• Starbucks.
• Waiākea Water.
• Joycelyn Photography.