Blue Ash Police and Fire help children shop for the holidays



Blue Ash Police and Firefighters turned out for a big night in Blue Ash to help local children.

At the Heroes & Helpers event at Target in Blue Ash yesterday, officers and firefighters were paired with children to help them shop for holiday gifts. (See the photos on Facebook here.)

 “Since 2009, Target has organized Heroes & Helpers events in hundreds of communities across the country to help foster lasting connections between youth and public safety officials from their neighborhoods. In those 10 years, Target has awarded more than $5 million in Heroes & Helpers grants in communities nationwide and hosted more than 100,000 kids for a joyful holiday shopping experience,” according to a Target news release.

Public agencies in each city work together to select the children participating in the events, and kids then receive gift cards to shop for holiday gifts, according to the release.

Children also made arts and crafts, decorated cookies, hung out with Sparky the Fire Dog, and took home stockings full of toys for themselves and their siblings.

Funding for the event was provided by Target, the Blue Ash Police Association, and the Blue Ash Police and Fire Departments.

The Blue Ash Community Church provided Donatos Pizza for each family.

Thirty officers, firefighters, and personnel participated to help 20 children in the local community.  

It was the first year Heroes & Helpers was held in Blue Ash. Police and firefighters plan to continue the event for many years to come.