KOOTENAI COUNTY, ID: ‘Tis the season! The annual Holidays and Heroes event will be held the first week of December 2020. Police officers and firefighters volunteer their time to make this event special and are happy to work in partnership with businesses, civic groups, and citizens in the surrounding area to make a disadvantaged child’s Christmas a little bit brighter.
Although many of us will celebrate and exchange gifts with our families, others are less fortunate and unable to bear the financial burden. For them, it’s a struggle to provide the basic, daily necessities of life. Holidays and Heroes strives to add a little extra joy during the gift-giving season. To create another successful year of holiday magic for hundreds of local children, cash and food items are now being accepted by participating law enforcement and emergency service agencies. As more donations are provided, additional children can be put on our shopping list.
The 2020 participating agencies include: Coeur d’Alene Police Department, Coeur d’Alene Tribal Police, Idaho State Police, Kootenai County Fire & Rescue, Kootenai County Sheriff’s Office, Life Flight Network, Post Falls Police Department, Rathdrum Police Department, Spirit Lake Police Department, Spokane County Sheriff’s Department, Probation & Parole, and Idaho National Guard.
Due to COVID-19, this year’s event will look a little different however; police officers and firefighters will still be shopping for the children. Children’s names are provided to the organizers by school resource officers, school counselors, patrol officers, deputy sheriffs, or firefighters who have come into contact with a less fortunate child during the past year. Officers, firefighters, and support staff will be shopping for gifts for the children and their families. After the shopping is complete, volunteers will wrap their presents and prepare large food baskets for the children’s families. At the end of the day, the officers and firefighters load the presents and food into their vehicles and drop them off at the child’s residence.
KCSO ‘Holidays and Heroes’ is now accepting monetary donations and food items that can be dropped off or sent to the Kootenai County Sheriff’s Office at 5500 N. Government Way, Coeur d’Alene, ID 83815
Citizens are asked to make a food or cash donation at upcoming food drive events in Spokane and Kootenai County where police and fire departments will be participating. Thank you!
For more information, please contact Kootenai County Sheriff’s Office Lieutenant Mike McFarland, at 208-446-1300.