Children in Pella were able to shop for Christmas with their heroes.

Officers with the Pella Police Department and firefighters from Pella Fire partnered with Schuring and Uitermarkt and Walmart for the third annual Holiday Heroes program Tuesday evening.

Pella Police Lieutenant Paul Haase says dozens of children and their families received an extra hand with Christmas shopping.

“We always have a great time–the firefighters and police officers I think enjoy it almost as much as the kids do,” he says. “Seeing the kids and being able to help them have a great Christmas holiday is just a lot of fun and brings a lot of joy to the firefighters and police officers that get to help with the event.”

Firefighter Jason Schroeder says the night was rewarding by not only brightening the holidays for the kids, but every person involved with the effort.

“It was a fantastic experience,” he says. “Seeing the glow on their faces and just being able to be there with them as they walked around and found stuff for family members and the things that they might like, it was just a great experience.”

Students were selected from Pella and Pella Christian Schools, and many of them shopped with siblings and parents alongside a firefighter and police officer. Employees from Schuring and Uitermarkt wrapped the gifts, Central College provided transportation, and several local businesses contributed to gift bags given to each family at the end of the night.

Haase says community support through donations made to the Pella Police Department Officers Association and from that group participating in No Shave November helps provide additional funds for kids to shop with, on top of donations made by Schuring and Uitermarkt and the Pella Walmart, among other local organizations and businesses.

Hear more from the third annual Holiday Heroes program on today’s Let’s Talk Pella.