Fleet Farm has proven one thing over and over since their arrival in Hastings. They are good community partners and they go all in to support the community they are in. The latest support they have given was last week with their “Shop with a Hero” event in conjunction with the Hastings Area YMCA. Fleet Farm has been collecting gift cards from shoppers for over a month, waiting to use the gift cards on families in need. The families were able to send a shopper to go around with a member of either Hastings Police, Fire and EMS, or a Dakota County Sheriff’s Officer.

Thursday night started with 13 children arriving at the Hastings YMCA for treats and events before being bused up to Fleet Farm. Once at Fleet Farm, the kids and their shopping partners had the run of the store because Fleet Farm closed early to accommodate the event. The kids were paired with community heroes and had a night out on the town purchasing gifts for family members.

Once the gifts were purchased, the group headed back to the YMCA where countless volunteers were waiting to help wrap all the wonderful gifts that were purchased. After the gifts were wrapped, they went home with each family to be opened during their holiday celebrations.

Community Engagement Officer Whitney Rinowski was on hand to document the event as some families did not want their children photographed as part of the event. One child proclaimed, ‘This is the best Christmas ever!’ according to Officer Rinowski.

When asked about the shopping event and how much was raised for that, Officer Rinowski replied, “I’m not sure how much was raised/donated but I would put it conservatively around $4,000. Keep in mind, pizza/drinks were served for dinner, kids were transported by bus to and from the YMCA, plus cookies/wrapping supplies at the end of the night, it really was a wonderful night for these kids and the volunteers, that is what means the world to them.”

An event like this cannot happen without the generosity of the local heroes, the Hastings YMCA, Fleet Farm and the wonderful people of Hastings. This community just keeps giving as is evident from the Friday night event where Officer Rinowski and Marcie from Fleet Farm participated in the Toys For Tots law enforcement drop off night where Officer Rinowski and Marcie were able to drop off half of the toys that have been donated thus far.

“The 75th Anniversary Toys for Tots campaign is ending December 18th so if you’re still looking at ways to give back to the community, you have a couple of days left! We’re looking for brand new, unwrapped toys (such as books, board games, arts and craft projects) to be given as Christmas gifts to children all over the Twin Cities,” said Rinowski.

Officer Rinowski was not sure on how many toys they collected, so she summed it up in two words, “A lot!”

There are only 10 days left before Christmas, so now is the time to give if you are looking to help!

Officer Paul Young and his shopping partner show off their haul before heading back to the YMCA to wrap the gifts.Photo submitted

Community Engagement Officer Whitney Rinowski and Fleet Farm’s Marcie Freeman dropping off their first load of Toys for Tots at the KARE 11 backyard. Photo by Officer Rinowski

A small portion of the toys that Officer Rinowski and Marcie Freeman-delivered to the Toys for Tots drive. Photo submitted

Back at the YMCA, volunteers worked feverishly to wrap all the gifts that the kids picked out for their family members so they could take the presents home and have them under their trees.Photo submitted