[0:01] The Blaine Super Target was the [0:02] epicenter of fun and joy recently. [0:05] >> You can't leave here not saying you had [0:07] a good time. [0:08] >> The 16th annual Heroes and Helpers event [0:11] took place as North Metro grade school [0:13] students went on a holiday shopping [0:16] spree. [0:17] >> We have 70 uh kids this year, which is [0:19] our biggest group ever. [0:21] >> Each kid pairs up with a local hero and [0:23] gets to spend $250 on holiday gifts. [0:27] Blaine police detective Orin Christensen [0:31] is one of the organizers of the event. [0:33] >> Every year I say I'm going to hand this [0:35] program off to somebody else to [0:37] facilitate, but it's a really hard [0:38] program to get rid of. Everybody's got a [0:40] smile on their face. I mean, you look [0:42] around and they're having fun and the [0:43] kids are laughing and uh having a good [0:46] time, too. We take photos. We're goofy [0:48] with the kids. Like, it's just a it's a [0:50] good four or five hours that we get to [0:52] spend with them that we normally [0:53] wouldn't. and um we're all very thankful [0:56] for that opportunity. [0:57] >> Christensen told us that there were [0:59] agencies from all over the North Metro [1:02] participating in the giftgrabbing fund. [1:04] >> I think we have eight people from SPM [1:07] Fire, 10 from Alina, um a couple from [1:11] Centennial Lakes, one from uh Spring [1:13] Lake Park PD, and then the rest are from [1:16] Blaine and Lino Lakes PD. All right, [1:18] we'll keep. [1:19] >> The youngsters clearly had a good time [1:22] as they went through the aisles looking [1:24] for that perfect present. [1:26] >> We have these walkie-talkies for my [1:29] little sister and my brother, I guess, [1:32] or just me and my brother. [1:34] >> I got my sister a a sleeping stitch [1:38] Christmas stuffy cuz she's wanted it for [1:42] more than 2 years. [1:44] >> And I got my mom a big fluffy blanket. [1:47] This is like my first time doing this. [1:49] >> Colin Brown from Alina teamed up with [1:52] Jada and both definitely were enjoying [1:55] the experience. [1:56] >> First of all, it's just very fulfilling. [1:58] I mean, this is a season of giving and [1:59] giving is receiving and being able to [2:01] kind of help uh Jada interact with her [2:04] siblings in such a positive way and [2:06] wonderful way and bring that kind of joy [2:08] to their family is pretty neat. [2:09] >> Emily Douglas is the community outreach [2:12] coordinator for the Blaine Police [2:14] Department. She is passionate about [2:16] heroes and helpers and likes how it [2:19] brings everyone together for a good [2:21] cause. [2:22] >> It's really fun. It's hard to not smile [2:24] when you're here. [2:25] >> This truly was a win-win event. Seeing [2:28] those gifts being scanned in the [2:30] checkout line was a reason to smile or [2:34] in some cases a reason to break out some [2:36] special dance moves. Yes, it's my [2:39] favorite event of the year. Mostly just [2:41] because all the kids and all the cops [2:43] are all and our first responders are all [2:45] smiles most of the time. Even the people [2:47] that are just randomly shopping here [2:49] have a great time watching everybody [2:51] shopping [2:53] >> in Blaine. I'm Eric Nelson, North Metro [2:56] TV News.