By Hannah Caver, Staff Writer
TRUSSVILLE — The Boys and Girls Club of Central Alabama enjoyed a Holiday with Heroes on Wednesday, December 9.
Enterprise Holdings Foundation teamed up with America Family Care (AFC) to host Holiday with Heroes, which allowed children with the Boys and Girls Club of Central Alabama to spend an afternoon with local law enforcement/military personnel; such as, Trussville Police Department, Jefferson County Sheriff’s Department, Birmingham Police Department, and representatives for the United States Military.
Enterprise Holdings Foundation presented a check to the Boys and Girls Club of Central Alabama for $1,500.
“We partnered with the Boys and Girls Club of Central Alabama, to sponsor 15 children, and also partnering with the different police departments, sheriff’s departments, first responders, and the business community to really just provide a fun, memorable holiday experience,” Group truck manager for Enterprise’s South Central Division Eric Lund said. “It’s our first year doing this, and we’re hoping that we will grow ever year. But we’re excited to be part of the whole program.”
The event started at Spare Time Entertainment in Trussville where law enforcement/military personnel were given different colored wristbands with a child’s name on it, the children then had to seek out the officer with the corresponding wrist band.
“The biggest part of it is being able to interact with these kids in a positive way,” Trussville Police Chief Eric Rush said. “Instead of the usual interaction with police, which is typically negative, or when something bad usually has happened. In this setting, we’re just another person, we’re just here to support them, and hopefully, they can realize that we’re just people to.”
The room that once had adults and children, now only consisted of children and over grown children as they jumped between around playing in the arcade and bowling. Nothing beats the smiles that each child and hero wore as they jumped at the opportunity to go head-to-head in laser tag. The heroes dragged themselves out of the laser tag sweating and laughing as the kids stuck to them like glue.
“Police officers have huge hearts and kids are our weakness typically,” Rush said. “I think these guys are having the time of their lives right now. I think they’re loving it, and they’re fixing to go play laser tag, ultimately, we’re really just big kids. I think they’re really enjoying it.”
But the fun didn’t end there. All the heroes then gave the children a full lights and sirens escort to Target to begin the second phase of the night.
“We’re providing a gift card for them to go over to Target and shop,” Lund said. “Target’s provided different incentives for them as well, we put together a care package for the families for needs that they have.”
That’s all it took for the children to haul their hero down every aisle in search of what they wanted for Christmas. Grabbing everything within arms reach and tossing it into the Target buggy’s and running to find the next item that catches their eye. Santa Came early this year for the children at the Boys and Girls Club of Central Alabama.
“The guardians will have an opportunity to grab any needs that they have to fill their baskets while the kids are over there doing shopping for the families,” Lund said.
The children weren’t the only one’s who Santa visited because while the children were shopping with the heroes, their parents were being given gift baskets full of everyday needs, along with shoes and t-shirts that were donated through a partnership with the Power Life Foundation.
“They said that we had to buy for an individual, but with the Power of Life Foundation, we work in masses,” Executive Director of Power of Life Foundation and Birmingham Police Officer, Lane Harper said. “I don’t work with just small numbers. If I’m going to bless you, I’m going to bless your entire family. So I said how about if we’re working for 14 children let’s bless 20 or 30 children.”