Snohomish County’s First Responders from various agencies came together with local service members to spread holiday cheer at Arlington’s Annual Holidays with Heroes Event. Chief Jonathan Ventura from the Arlington Police Department is Erica’s special guest and shares about this heartwarming experience!
We want to hear about the people and businesses you know doing good work and truly Catching the Spirit of kindness in the community. You can tell us about them here. Special thanks to Davis Law Group for helping us recognize those in our community doing good.
TRANSCRIPTION:
Erica:
Christmas SPIRIT 105.3. Hi, it’s Erica.
Chief Jonathan:
Hi Erica. This is Jonathan Ventura from Arlington Police Department.
Erica:
Hey, Chief, how are you?
Chief Jonathan:
I am living the dream. How are you doing?
Erica:
Me too. And I’m so grateful for you. That’s how I’m doing. I’m just feeling grateful. Looking at all of the pictures from holidays with Heroes Chief, for somebody who’s never heard of this event, what happens there?
Chief Jonathan:
Well, this is kind of an offshoot of what you may have seen in other places called Shop with A Cop. And for us a few years ago that Shop with a Cop logo was trademarked by somebody, and so we kind of rebranded Holidays with Heroes and got to expand our program a little bit beyond that experience of having children come out and shop with cops. We work with our fire department and our local service members, and just anybody that these children can look up to and gives us the opportunity to make those lasting connections in our community with young people.
Erica:
I think it’s so cool how it works. All of you heroes meet the kids in our community who need a little Christmas this year. Their families need a little help, and it really takes the entire community coming together to make this happen, right?
Chief Jonathan:
Absolutely. Walmart is a big key sponsor. They provide a grant as well as many other people, individuals, and groups in the community. Costco provides apizza feast for everybody. Starbucks brings in the caffeine, but yeah, Walmart is where we meet.
Erica:
And then when these kids are interacting with our heroes, you guys who serve the community every day see their needs all year long. Chief, what’s happening in your heart when all this is going on?
Chief Jonathan:
Oh my gosh. We’ve been doing this for 23 years, and every year I walk away with a story. These kids are given the opportunity to buy things from themselves. And I’ll be honest, the majority of ’em want to spend money on family and friends, and the heroes that they’re shopping with have to talk them into buying something from themselves. And it could be something from pots and pans for the family to cook with. And one of my most touching stories was a child bought a toilet repair kit, and I thought that was such an odd thing. And this child said, our toilet has been broken for a year, and my mom would be so happy to have that fixed, and it just brings a tear to my eye.
Erica:
Yeah, my heart literally just melted. I mean, it just touches me that you guys who give all year long spend time, energy, money, to make this happen. Why do you continue to do it year after year?
Chief Jonathan:
You know what, I grew up myself in poverty, I guess, and I think of Fred Rogers gave us some of the best advice,
“Whenever you’re in trouble, look for the helpers.”
I just think it’s such an honor to be in a place of service, to have other people look up to you, and to be worthy of that. We have to do something to give back and to be worthy of that and make those connections. And I think everybody I work with just feels that way. And sometimes it’s hard to get volunteers, but I promise you once they do it one time, they say, oh my gosh, this was the best thing in my life. I’m going to come back and do it next year.
Erica:
Oh, I bet. Tell me about the perspective of the moms and dads. What are you seeing on their faces during the event?
Chief Jonathan:
Oftentimes they are just brought to tears and they’re just blown away. We get so many hugs from the kids, but we probably get more hugs from the families that are there. It’s just touching for everybody, and it’s not just the heroes. We have so many volunteers behind the scenes. The Volunteers of America runs… they select our kids through the Arlington Resource Center, and they know who needs the help, and we’ll spend as much money as we can raise. And the guys that are volunteering, they’re not there on paid time, they’re volunteering their own time. So we make sure that every penny that’s raised goes to the program, and the families know that and they see that.
Erica:
Do you ever wonder as you’re looking at all these kids, Chief, if one of them is going to grow up to be a hero one day, simply because of the love they’re feeling at this event?
Chief Jonathan:
I’d like to think so. It’s just such a calling to service, whether it’s police, fire, military, or teachers or doctors and nurses… Those people that are the helpers in the community. If anybody grows up with a heart for service, I think we’re blessed and we’re better off as a community. And some of ’em tell us that they’re going to be police, and sometimes when they’re picking who to shop with, they’ll pick a fireman. And I’m not hurt by that. Firemen got it figured out. I’m jealous of them too.
Erica:
Oh, chief Jonathan Ventura, it’s been such a delight to talk with you. God bless you and your team there for all you do. And Merry Christmas.
Chief Jonathan:
Oh, Merry Christmas. God bless you too. Thank you so much, Erica.
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