Officers help kids find the perfect Christmas present.
WEST POTTSGROVE >> Local police can tell you that you don’t need a long white beard or a red suit to bring happiness to children during the holidays.
For the third year in a row, the Helpers and Heroes program has brought joy to area children who may not have had the opportunity to get Christmas presents for the holidays. The event is aimed at giving children the chance to spend a morning with local police officers as they shop together for the perfect Christmas gifts.
At around 9 a.m. Saturday, children and officers shuffled into Target at Upland Square Shopping Center ready to begin their holiday excursion.
The program began after West Pottsgrove Officer Robert Radswillas came to West Pottsgrove Police Chief Matthew Stofflet and told him that the event was possible through grants that were available for Helpers and Heroes. Radswillas then took over planning the event and, through the grants, police were able to obtain Target gift cards for children to use for shopping. This year, they were able to provide gift cards for 20 children.
“We got a grant from Target and this year I also got a grant from Waste Management,” explained Radswillas. “We then reach out to the school district and they pick children and they come here and just go shopping with a police officer.”
Once everyone arrived, officers and children were assigned to each other and spent the morning strolling through the store picking out gifts among the aisles of electronics and toys. As several officers donned light-up Santa hats, kids could also be seen in their holiday best, complete with paper reindeer antlers and excited smiles.
“It creates that community atmosphere where they get a chance to be with us and see us as who we are, having fun with them and the community. It’s a great day, a great event,” said Stofflet.
That feeling resonated with Radswillas, who said that he is always excited to do the program each year.
“Every year stands out for me,” he explained. “I love doing this every year. The impact that it has on the community lasts year long. In June or July I’ll meet kids who will say, ‘Hey, I remember you from the Helpers and Heroes event.’ And you have the parents, too. It just goes all year long for us.”
Stofflet added that he hopes the event will continue to grow because the feeling the event gives both officers and the community is unparalleled.
“We have seven agencies here today. We added, I believe three agencies this year. It just keeps getting bigger and greater. Hopefully next year we can have three more agencies and more kids,” said Stofflet.
“When you see that child receive that card and just the smile from the minute they walk in the door to the minute they leave the store and the hugs and the smiles ... Seeing the families’ interactions with us really lets us share the joy of the holiday season. Those are the memories I always take away from this. As long as we continue to do this, I believe it will be the same memories every year,” he said.
For the third year in a row, the Helpers and Heroes program has brought joy to area children who may not have had the opportunity to get Christmas presents for the holidays.