Photo by Deb Gau Lyon County Sheriff Eric Wallen and Ka’Mari Deuel browse bookshelves as Deuel searched for the perfect holiday gifts for her family.

MARSHALL — Emergency responders helped make the holidays merry for area families this weekend.

On Sunday, young people teamed up with law enforcement officers, firefighters and emergency medical responders to go shopping for gifts for their families.

“Every year, we’re excited,” Ryan Anthony said., He is one of the organizers of this year’s “Holidays with Heroes” event.

Anthony said it was good to see the response to the event each year, especially the number of emergency responders volunteering.

“They’re putting their time aside for this,” he said.

Organizers said the goal for this year’s Holidays with Heroes was to help provide gifts for about 11 to 13 families. Youth and emergency responders were given a budget, and went shopping for holiday gifts for each of their family members. Afterward, responders also lent a hand wrapping the presents.

Holidays with Heroes has been going on for about five years in Marshall. Downtown Sound Entertainment, the Marshall Walmart, and agencies like the State Patrol, the Lyon County Sheriff’s Office, Marshall Police, Marshall Fire Department and North Memorial Ambulance all worked together to help organize the event. Support from the community is also key to making Holidays with Heroes happen, said Leah Anthony, one of the event organizers.

“The support is amazing. I think it spreads a little more each year,” she said.

The teams of kids and emergency responders each had different shopping strategies as they headed out through the aisles at Walmart. Some knew just what they were looking for, while others had to think a bit. The fun part was “figuring out what to buy,” said Kash Novelli.

Tatem Fennell said he knew what he wanted to get for each of his family members.

“I just took it off their Christmas lists,” he said.

“I knew the big presents I wanted to get for my mom and sister,” Ka’mari Deuel said.

She said she was looking forward to seeing her family unwrapping the presents.

“I just feel I’m happy to give it to them on Christmas,” she said.

In addition to spreading holiday cheer, one of the other good things about Holidays with Heroes is that it gives kids a chance to meet emergency responders in a fun and positive situation, Leah Anthony said.

“To be able to have those interactions be positive … I think it’s amazing, because it shows another side of it,” she said.