The fourth annual Holidays with Hometown Heroes event was a child’s dream and their faces showed it Dec. 17 as they were surrounded by family and new friends: law enforcement officials.
Santa Claus was also on hand to help the children and their families celebrate the Christmas season at Avon Middle School at the facility at 3445 Long Road.
As one young boy was walking through the packed parking lot, he exclaimed to his mother pointing to an Avon Police cruiser, “Mom, look! Mom, there’s antlers on the police car.”
Then the child pointed to a holiday wreath hanging on the rear of another cruiser in the line of police vehicles.
Members of law enforcement dressed in uniforms from Avon, Avon Lake, North Ridgeville, Sheffield and Sheffield Lake Police departments as well as the Lorain County Sheriff’s Office attended the gathering.
The event began with a breakfast of eggs and pancakes early in the morning and wrapped up with pizza for lunch, said Avon Police Sgt. George Ruple, who’s been organizing the event since its inception.
In between meal-times, the group headed to Meijer’s to shop for each child, Ruple said.
Meanwhile, as the officers were shopping with children, patrons of the store stopped and donated further, giving gift cards, Ruple added.
“They really helped spread the cheer,” Ruple commented on the generous donations adding that he is “honored” to organize the event.
About a week before, police officials and volunteers made a secret trip to purchase toys and gifts that were specifically asked for, he added.
The gifts were addressed to each child with the famous signature of Santa Claus.
After lunch, Santa visited to distribute gifts to all, eliciting cheers and applause from the large crowd.
The sponsors, volunteers and police agencies worked together.
Some of the partnerships include Meijers, Avon Veterans of Foreign War Post 7035, Lorain County Blue Foundation, Avon Local Schools, Master Pizza and Tom’s Country Place, according to a news release.
While in its fourth year, the event was modified in 2020 and 2021 due to COVID-19 where the officers handed out gifts in the parking lot outdoors to each participating family while they stayed in their vehicles, Ruple said.
“Over 75 officers, family members and volunteers will be working to make the day magical,” the news release also stated.
In preparation of the event, 54 eligible children were invited and the organizers planned for their families and siblings to attend as well, Ruple said. The event was estimated to include between 38 to 39 families all together, he added.
Approximately 150 volunteers were also credited for helping make the event possible, Ruple said.
“It turned out really good,” Ruple said.
Ruple intends to continue the work of spreading Christmas joy and hopes someday one of the youngsters who attend the event may be inspired to be police officers themselves, he said.
