Local heroes create big smiles in El Dorado Hills

TheSnowball Heroes and Helpers Shopping event benefiting at-risk children in El Dorado County was held last Saturday morning at Target in El Dorado Hills. This year's event provided more than 200 youths $200 each to go holiday shopping with local first responders. It's an opportunity for at-risk children to have positive interactions with local law enforcement and fire personnel while filling their carts with winter coats, new shoes, warm socks and other necessities."Unfortunately, many at-risk children's exposure to first responders comes about during stressful, negative life events," said District Attorney Vern Pierson. "We started the Snowball event to provide these children with an opportunity to interact with law enforcement and fire personnel in a positive, safe environment. This interaction serves to help change the course of a child's life and helps provide these children with some needed items for their home, a positive interaction with law enforcement and a Christmas gift."Pierson noted the shopping event is one of the region's largest and longest-running holiday charity outreach programs.Saturday morning started bright and early at Hills Church with a pancake breakfast served by Chief Maurice Johnson and his crew from the El Dorado Hills Fire Department. Children could also drop off their wish list with Santa Claus before heading over to Target.Volunteers came out in force to support Snowball shopping, including from the Shingle Springs Band of Miwok Indians Police and Fire departments, California Department of Fish and Wildlife, Placerville Police Department, El Dorado County Probation Department and Sheriff's Office, California Highway Patrol, Rotary Club of El Dorado Hills and Big Brothers Big Sisters of Northern Sierra.Snowball Heroes and Helpers Shopping's major sponsors are the Shingle Springs Band of Miwok Indians, Red Hawk Casino, El Dorado County Asset Forfeiture Fund, Deputy Sheriffs' Association, Criminal Attorneys Association, Probation Officers Association and several private donors from the local community. More than $500,000 has directly benefited approximately 2,000 local children since the first Snowball event in 2008, according to the District Attorney's Office.