Throughout December, Target teams in more than 200 communities across the U.S. and Canada worked together with local law enforcement to make holiday magic for kids and families through the Heroes & Helpers program.
Part of our Target & BLUE effort, Heroes & Helpers events pair public safety officers with in-need youth for a day of holiday shopping in our stores, helping them form strong relationships in the process. Local law enforcement selects kids and families to participate, and the kids receive donated funds from Target and other local organizations, businesses and individuals to help them get gifts and other items they need. This year, Target donated more than $200,000 worth of GiftCards to public safety organizations especially for the events.
From coast to coast, the events brought joy to local communities. At a Target in Saint Paul, Minn., kids and officers circled the aisles, finding gifts in every department. Team members and volunteers were stationed throughout the store in festive elf hats and reindeer antlers to help when needed. More than 300 kid-and-officer teams had a great time at the San Diego celebration. And our Orlando, Fla., stores hosted 350 kids and their law enforcement buddies for a day of shopping, snacks, and even pictures with Santa.
Many communities celebrated their first Heroes & Helpers event with Target this year. At our newly opened store in Winnipeg, Manitoba, the kids enjoyed cookies, juice and hot chocolate as they shopped the store with their law enforcement buddies. In Anaheim, Calif., the police department held its first Heroes & Helpers event as part of its Cops 4 Kids program. And after many successful National Night Out events, the Dover, Del., Police Department and Target teamed up again to host their first Heroes & Helpers event.
When the shopping was done at many of our stores, including the celebration in Atlanta, the kids created thank-you cards for their law enforcement partners and volunteers for making the day possible.
“These events wouldn’t be possible without the hard work and dedication of our team members,” says Ralph Boelter, vice president, Corporate Security, Target. “They do an incredible amount of work planning and coordinating with law enforcement and other partners for months beforehand to bring each event to life.”
The Heroes & Helpers program is just one way our teams help local heroes support their communities. Visit Community Safety to learn more about how Target works with law enforcement to help keep our communities strong, healthy and safe.
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