 First responders took over the Bemidji target to go on a shopping spree with a few local kids today. Lakeland news reporter Cheryl Moore tells us more. $100 to spend today and he's going to be your calculator, alright? Christmas is right around the corner and tonight a few Bemidji's local heroes played Santa's Little Helpers and put presents under trees. We partner with the Bemidji Lions Club, the heroes of the community, police, fire, EMS, sheriff's office, state patrol and then we have the school pick some children for us and they come and are provided a monetary amount and shop with a hero. This was the second annual heroes and helpers event. 25 kids from eight different schools got to shop till they drop at the Bemidji target. Who's that for? For Claire? Officer Caragin came up with the idea to help introduce kids to the police and to help families who may be of lower income. Taken a few years last year we partnered with the Lions Club who actually set up an account for us for this event specifically so that any donations that come in sit in that account and are solely used for this event. Now each kid is given $100 and they can use that to buy gifts for their mom, their dad, their brother, their sister and of course themselves. I mean that's a lot of money to a kid. We don't limit the things that they buy and they just have a hero that goes around to assist them and aid be a calculator but not discourage them from purchasing anything so just to see the things they pick and the smiles on their face. At the end of the shopping spree the presents are wrapped and the kids get their picture taken with Santa. And of course kids walk away with a few new friends. For next year I just hope it runs as smooth as it did this year. We're still working out some kinks this is only the second year so we'll debrief together with target and find out what worked great for us and what we need to work on for next year and we'll go from there. Reporting in Bemidji, Shralmoor, Lakeland News. More than 30 heroes and 30 volunteers participated tonight. Target covered the tax on all of the gifts. If you've enjoyed this segment of Lakeland News, please consider making a tax deductible contribution to Lakeland Public Television.