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McAllen ISD police therapy dog Penny dresses as a Christmas tree while McAllen ISD students Christmas shop with a gift card at a Target store Wednesday, Dec. 11, 2024, in McAllen. (Joel Martinez | jmartinez@themonitor.com)McALLEN — The police department and the city’s school district on Wednesday partnered with Target to brighten the holidays for students with $100 gift cards through the Heroes and Helpers program.
The selected students were identified for the program by the district’s social workers. Even with students in certain circumstances this holiday season, almost all students picked out a gift or two for their siblings or loved ones, truly embracing the giving spirit of Christmas at a young age.
As 45 students all sat down in front of the McAllen Target by the Expressway, waiting patiently to go on a spending spree inside the store, out of the clear blue sky, Santa Claus came down, not by reindeer but by a helicopter.
McAllen ISD Superintendent René Gutiérrez and McAllen ISD Police Chief Jose Silva gave a few words before the students, ranging from Kindergarten to 5th grade, eagerly rushed inside the store to be paired with a police officer and to start their shopping spree for the holidays.
McAllen ISD Superintendent René Gutiérrez and Board President Sofia Peña sit among the students chosen for the Heroes & Helpers program at a Target store Wednesday, Dec. 11, 2024, in McAllen. (Omar Zapata | The Monitor)Of course, the most popular section that kids rushed to was the toy department.
McAllen Officer Aldo Rodriguez was paired with 8-year-old student Avery Caracas.
Looking for a cat plushie, they both browsed the variety of stuffed animals in the aisle.
“It’s amazing to see the smiles and the joy that it brings to them and I feed off of it,” Rodriguez said. “I’m feeling the same joy, I’m happy to be part of it. It’s a joyous moment.”
The first thing in the shopping cart was a toy car. Rodriguez said the student’s first thought was to get a Christmas present for her little brother.
“They’re not only shopping for themselves,” he said. “Right away, the first thing was ‘Let me buy something for my little brother.’ So, she’s just not thinking about herself but thinking about her family. Just to see that kindness in them, it chokes me up.”
As children excitedly browsed the toy and clothing sections, two siblings received help from Clarissa Gorena, a McAllen ISD social worker; Marifel Trevino, a UTRGV intern for the district; and McAllen police Investigator Sandra Gonzalez to figure out how much is left on the student’s gift cards.
“They made sure to also get items for their sibling as well,” Gorena said. “They’re also learning how to budget with the $100 … It’s so sweet, giving back. It’s the Christmas spirit.
Students from Christa McAuliffe, Woodrow Wilson, Theodore Roosevelt and Juan Seguin Elementary participated in the event.
“It’s great to see them smile and get all excited for all the different toys that they can get but especially the part where they’re like ‘I want to get this for my brother or sister.’ I’m just like ‘Wow,’ despite everything, they still think about their siblings.”
The partnership started in 2016 and Board President Sofia Peña said she has not missed the event during her four years as a trustee.
“It really does at this time of the year, make everything we go through all worth it,” Peña said. “Because these kids may or may not have a Christmas but today it’s Christmas for them, and we’re very proud of this project. No matter what I have on my calendar, I make sure to clear it out so that I could be here for this particular one.”
Gutiérrez, the superintendent, said he wanted to give thanks to the McAllen ISD staff, McAllen police and the district’s police department for making the program possible.
“I’m glad to see a lot of smiling faces from our kids,” he said. “They’re going to have a better Christmas through these efforts.”
The post McAllen Police Department partners with school district to bring holiday joy appeared first on MyRGV.com.
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