Over a hundred kids showed up for a shopping spree in Old East Dallas this Thursday as part of an initiative aimed at spreading holiday cheer and forging relationships of trust between first responders and the community.
A total of 135 kids selected by the Dallas Children’s Advocacy Center were paired up with a Dallas police officer or firefighter and handed a $100 gift card for Target. Hosted by the retail chain as part of its “Heroes and Helpers” program, 50 of the gift cards were sponsored by Target and the other 85 by the nonprofit Safer Dallas Better Dallas. By having first responders and kids pair up, a major goal of the event is to build a connection between local youths and law enforcement that could prove beneficial in the future.
“They’ll see an officer in uniform, and they’ll know that it’s safe. They’ll know that they can ask for help,” explained Safer Dallas Better Dallas chair Courtney Underwood, according to Fox 4 KDFW.
The children were all smiles as they scoured the aisles, looking for gifts for themselves and their loved ones. That was certainly the case for 17-year-old Destiny Rodriguez, who has seven siblings.
“My sister, she works a lot trying to provide for everybody,” Destiny explained. “And I just want to help her out because I know it’s hard, you know?”
As for 13-year-old Lala Johnson, her shopping focused on making her bedroom more comfortable. She was helped out by Sgt. Daniel Russell of the Dallas Police Department.
“I love being able to do stuff like this,” said Russell. “I love being able to get out, serve, try to make things a little bit better for people.”
For many of the children, the shopping spree offered a reprieve from otherwise gloomy circumstances.
“We’re working with kids that have had things happen in their lives that no kiddo should have to face,” explained Underwood, per Fox 4.
Lala will be spending the holidays without her father, who was recently incarcerated.
“So, it’s going to be hard for me to celebrate Christmas this year,” she said.
Still, as Police Chief Eddie Garcia noted, there were nothing but happy faces during the event.
“Who has more fun out here, the kids or the officers? I would say it’s probably a tie,” he said, according to Fox 4.
Community members posted on social media, expressing gratitude for the event organizers and the first responders who participated.
“Thank you so much for doing that for those families. One of my friends & her kids were blessed [by] this event today. It really made their Christmas much brighter!” wrote Phyllis Rankin Riddle.
“Words cannot describe how grateful I am for you guys. That happiness on my kids’ [faces] was priceless. I picked them up early from school, and I told them that we were going to go to an event and then they were going to go shopping. They were so excited. Thank you so much Dallas police department and everybody else who helped,” posted Vanessa Porras.
