Shopping buddies for Christmas

COEUR D’ALENE — Excitement filled the aisles of Target as local children of deployed soldiers got to play Santa with the assistance of local military members.

“I’m actually having fun,” 9-year-old Daniella said. “All I have left on my list is to get my dad something.”

The group of eight kids, each with a military buddy, scanned the shelves to find the perfect gift for everyone on their list Tuesday morning.

“It was lots of fun for them,” said Amanda Lake, mom to Maxx and Andru. “For us, especially this year, their dad is deployed so it just made it easier.”

Lake said the experience made them miss their dad a bit more since Christmas shopping was an activity they normally did with him, but the boys both said they enjoyed the company of their military buddies.

“It was kind of nice to let them go and have that manly buddy to help them,” Lake said. “Those are their dad’s friends so it made it even easier for them to shop and it made it fun for them.”

The eighth annual Heroes and Helpers was put on through a partnership between Target and local service members.

“This is one of the ways that we're able to bring joy this holiday season," said Kristine Kannegaard, store director.

Cassandra Rzepa, service member and family readiness specialist, said the military members enjoyed the experience as much as the kids. Each participating kid has a father who is deployed, and would be spending Christmas apart.

She said many of the kids struggle with the separation from their dad, and she heard from several moms that the early morning shopping trip was a light in a difficult time.

“Not a lot of people in the civilian population know what that is like, and so these little kids are super resilient,” Rzepa said.

Chelsea Rohlmeier, stepmom to 10-year-old Leo, said he enjoyed picking out gifts for the family, including the family dog.

Rohlmeier said Leo hasn’t had a chance to see his father in a year as he is deployed overseas, and so it was nice for him to be around another soldier.

“Even at the fair when he sees the Army booth he loves to go up and say, ‘My dad’s in the Army,’” Rohlmeier said.

Sgt. Kaylie Andrus, partnered with Daniella, said she liked how the event gave the kids an opportunity to buy gifts for their family that they wouldn’t be able to purchase on their own.

“It definitely makes it a lot easier for the families and I think it gives them an experience, especially when they don’t make their own little dollars,” Andrus said.

Six-year-old Keith was having fun picking out toys for his family with the assistance of his buddy, Sgt. First Class Nick Blankenship.

“I really look forward to it every year,” Blankenship said. “It’s a lot of fun keeping him on track.”

After finishing their shopping, the kids wrapped their gifts with their service member, who also played secret Santa for the youths, and received a keepsake ornament and framed photo of the experience.

“They just come and put a smile on their face and they have a great time,” Rzepa said. “They put a smile in turn on everyone else’s face around them.”