Carson-Tahoe Regional Medical Center registered nurse Becky Duffy and Evelynn Ostin of Fritsch Elementary School at Holiday with a Hero on Dec. 18, 2024 at the Market Street Walmart.
Photo by Jessica Garcia.
Some students go straight for the toys while others wander to clothes or electronics, but the local heroes — members of the military, nurses, police officers, firefighters and other men and women in uniform —make sure they go home happy.
The 20th year of Holiday with a Hero brought plenty of energy and community support Wednesday at the Market Street Walmart for Carson City students and local heroes, many of which also included the volunteers who wrap the gifts.
Holiday with a Hero this year offered 210 kindergartners through eighth graders an opportunity to shop for themselves or loved ones with the help of officers, public safety, military and health personnel. Approximately 250 volunteers supported the event to help with shopping inside the store or gift wrapping plus donations as well as events leading up to the day. The program helps young people to know early on they can interact with men and women in authority in a positive way.
Holiday with a Hero on Dec. 18, 2024 offered 210 students an opportunity to shop for themselves or loved ones with the help of officers, public safety, military and health personnel. Approximately 250 volunteers supported the event. Photos by Jessica Garcia of the Nevada Appeal
This year, Kyra Gonzales, daughter of program organizer Meliah Gonzales, was decked out in a fun costume and eager to greet the students. She jumped around with them, stirring up their excitement waving to them outside. The kids exited their buses that had been escorted by sheriff’s deputies into the Walmart parking lot and received high fives from a line of heroes waiting for them.
“I just love everything about it,” Kyra Gonzales said. “It’s just like Christmastime. What can you not like about? I think it’s a really good thing that we do this for the kids.
“And one kid did ask me which reindeer was the most annoying and I couldn’t think of any reindeers,” she said. “And then I finally thought of Prancer, so I said, ‘Prancer.’ It was fun.”
Santa Claus, played by Carson City resident Tom Bragg, has been a part of the program since its inception. The Washoe County Sheriff’s Office flew Santa in on a helicopter, circling the store several times as he waved to children waiting below. He was all hugs, smiles and high fives to youth and heroes alike and took photos with them once they were ushered in for the main event.
“It just keeps getting better and better every year,” he said.
Carson City Superintendent Andrew Feuling called the event “incredible.”
“What an amazing event,” he said. “You can hear the excitement from the kids’ screaming. What an incredible event … and there have to be probably at least 200 law enforcement, fire, National Guard and people all here that to be with the kids and help them with the shopping and what a great way for a community to find a way to support kids.”
Holiday with a Hero this year provided the students with $120 gifts cards for use, and through the efforts of donors and the board, it raised $220,000. In its fundraising efforts, it has invested $350,000 worth of services back into Carson City’s children. Holiday with a Hero has grown since its inception when it began by serving 75 students who received $50 gift cards.
Hannah Etchison, CCSD’s McKinney-Vento liaison and special projects coordinator, said the district continually looks forward to Holiday with a Hero for its positive community impact.
“It’s just such a good part of the Carson City School District and the community,” she said. “It’s always great to have them walking around with the deputies.”
Kids also had an opportunity to participate in a coat drive if they didn’t have a jacket outside the store separate from the funding allocated for their shopping, Etchison said.