BEMIDJI 鈥� For nine years heroes and Santa鈥檚 little helpers have spent an evening each December shopping with Bemidji kids in need of a little holiday cheer.
Coined Heroes and Helpers, the annual event is hosted by Bemidji area law enforcement and both the Bemidji and First City Lions Clubs who aim to build positive relationships between youth and law enforcement and helps selected children shop for gifts during the holiday season.
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鈥淭his year we invited 35 children to shop with us and they each get $125 to spend,鈥� Bemidji Police Officer Tabitha Carrigan said. 鈥淲e work with the school district to pick the kids, we ask them for kids they know are in need or needing positive law enforcement experience so that we can give them something for Christmas.鈥�
Each child that filed into the makeshift 鈥淪parkle Shop鈥� in the holiday section at Bemidji Walmart was paired with a hero from the Bemidji Fire Department, Bemidji Police Office, Bemidji Ambulance Service, Beltrami County Sheriff鈥檚 Office or Minnesota State Patrol, along with a helper from the Bemidji Lions Club.
Santa鈥檚 elves, also known as First City Lions members, stayed back to wrap all the children鈥檚 presents once they had concluded their shopping excursions. The youngsters also had the chance to take a picture with Santa and Mrs. Claus while enjoying snacks and hot chocolate.
鈥淓very year that we've done this, kids will use the money to not only buy for themselves, but they buy for their family,鈥� Carrigan added. 鈥淲e don't dictate how they spend their money because most of these kids probably have never been able just to go and buy whatever they want. And almost all of them inevitably buy for someone else other than themselves along the way.
鈥淪o it's just really heartwarming to see how they think of others when they're given this gift.鈥�
Nine-year-old Mallorie Pick, a third-grader at Lincoln Elementary, came into the event with a plan to execute.
鈥淚t's my first year here, so it's a little hard to find stuff sometimes,鈥� she said with a laugh. 鈥淏ut we found all that I was looking for. I had a specific list for everybody in my family, including the dogs, because they're very important.鈥�
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She carefully selected a toy for each of her family鈥檚 two pugs, Luna and Frank, so they too could be included in the Christmas morning gift-unwrapping experience.
Having recently moved to Bemidji from Oregon, Pick said she is excited for snow and a potentially white Christmas.
鈥淎ll we have in Oregon is rain. Just freezing rain and more rain,鈥� Pick said. 鈥淪o this is my first actual deep snow and I'm excited.鈥�
Pick also shared that her heroes, Bemidji Police Officers Gregory Zimbelman and Roy Fletcher, were very helpful in bringing her around the store.
When asked if she had fun shopping she quickly replied, 鈥淵es. Most importantly, I did.鈥�
Bemidji Lions Club President Ethan Larson has been involved with the event for the past five years and shared how much he looks forward to it each holiday season.
鈥淲e're just really happy and proud to help and be a part of Heroes and Helpers each year,鈥� Larson said. 鈥淚t's always fun to see all the kids and to get the chance to collaborate with law enforcement and first responders.鈥�
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A main part of the Lions鈥� mission is to give back to the community and provide needed services, with Larson citing this event as one of their most popular each year.
鈥淲e also really appreciate Walmart and them having us here in the store for a few hours,鈥� he said. 鈥淪o we definitely want to give a big shoutout to Walmart and to all the members of our city who are here helping out, making this successful each and every year.鈥�
Larson also emphasized the heartwarming side of the event 鈥� seeing the young participants' selflessness come into play.
鈥淚t's just so neat to see all the kids shopping for their parents or grandparents or siblings, not just for themselves,鈥� he added. 鈥淚t鈥檚 so sweet to see the big smiles on their faces when they get to do something good for others, too.鈥�
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