Fourteen children and their families partnered with Eden Prairie police officers and firefighters on Dec. 7 for an afternoon of holiday shopping, community connection, and seasonal joy as part of the 10th annual Holidays with Heroes event.
The program, funded by an anonymous benefactor through the Eden Prairie Crime Prevention Fund, is designed to brighten the holidays for local families in need while fostering relationships between first responders and the community.
“We have an anonymous donor who gives us money every year to fund this,” said Lisa Toomey, president of the Eden Prairie Crime Prevention Fund. “It’s the same person every year, and they’ve been incredibly generous. We couldn’t do this without them.”
Held at Eden Prairie Center, the event paired children with seven police officers and seven firefighters, each equipped with gift cards funded by the Crime Prevention Fund. The kids could shop anywhere in the mall, with additional gift cards provided by Scheels and Cub Foods gift cards distributed to parents for groceries.
“This year went really well,” Toomey said. “The kids shopped with officers and firefighters, and we all had a great pizza party afterward. It was really fun!”
The pizza party, which took place in the lower level of the mall, has become a highlight of the event. “We used to have the pizza party at Davanni’s, but now we do it in the basement of the mall,” Toomey explained. “It’s much easier, more convenient, and the mall lets us use the space for free.”
The program began as “Shop with a Cop” but was renamed Holidays with Heroes to reflect the inclusion of Eden Prairie firefighters. Over the years, it has become a cornerstone of community outreach during the holiday season.
“Every year, it’s so nice to see how much fun the kids, firefighters, and police officers have hanging out and shopping together,” Toomey said.
Sgt. Leslie Perez, who has served with the Eden Prairie Police Department for over eight years, participated in this year’s Holidays with Heroes event and has been part of the program multiple times. She described the experience as rewarding not only for the families but also for the first responders.
“For me, it’s very meaningful,” Perez said. “Many of these families may be struggling and aren’t able to provide everything they’d like for their children. Seeing the kids pick out items they truly want and enjoy is heartwarming. The families are always so grateful, and being part of something that brings that much joy is incredibly rewarding.”
The Eden Prairie Crime Prevention Fund, which supports community programs beyond traditional policing, is essential to making Holidays with Heroes possible. Its other initiatives include Citizens Academy, Night to Unite, and the K-9 program.
The fund provides officers with $50 each during the holiday season to assist individuals in need.
“Every officer gets $50 to give out as they see fit – usually (to be used) for things like gas or groceries,” Toomey said. “They note what it’s used for so we can track the impact. This program has been running for about four or five years.”
The Eden Prairie Crime Prevention Fund welcomes tax-deductible donations to continue supporting programs like Holidays with Heroes. Contributions can be mailed to 8080 Mitchell Road, Eden Prairie, MN 55344, or made online.
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