Heroes & Helpers Event Gives Children of Families In Need a Chance to Shop With a Cop

Walk into the Dover Target store this holiday season and you may see a joyful sight: children hand-in-hand with heroes from the Dover Police Department, shopping for holiday gifts for themselves and their family.  The City of Dover Police Department along with Target Department Stores is excited to announce that the Dover Police will be participating in the Heroes and Helpers program.  On December 11th from 5pm-7pm, officers from the Dover Police Department will take a group of children in-need to the Dover Target store to shop for holiday gifts for their families.  Although the Dover Police Department and Dover Target have worked together on the National Night Out project for several years, this is the first time either of them have participated in the Heroes and Helpers campaign.  The event pairs public safety officers with in-need youth for a day of holiday shopping, and a chance to form strong relationships in the process. Local law enforcement selects kids and families to participate, and the kids receive donated funds from Target and other local organizations, businesses and individuals to help them get gifts and other items they need.  For the past several years, Target and local public safety organizations across the country have held events similar to Heroes & Helpers in communities, bringing kids and families holiday cheer, and forming lasting connections with law enforcement. This year, Target donated approximately $200,000 to public safety organizations especially for the events.  The Dover Police Department Special Enforcement Unit (SEU) Supervisor, Sergeant Chad Bernat had this to say about the program:  “This program allows Target and the Dover Police Department to come together once more, and help make the holidays a little better for several deserving children and families.  I believe it is important that children have positive interactions like this with their local police department and know that the community supports them as well.  The program started by Target helps local heroes support their communities and another way for the Dover Police Department to give back to the community they serve.”  Dover Police Chief, James Hosfelt added to those sentiments by saying “The Dover Police Department is grateful for the opportunity to team with Target in support of the Heroes and Helpers Program.  This program has helped to make many Christmas Holidays a little brighter across the nation and now because of the good work of Target, the Dover Police Department will have the opportunity to share in this wonderful event.”  It will certainly be a great night for the children and families involved, but also for the men and women of the Dover Police Department as well.