Hiway is happy to announce the first recipients for Hiway Holiday Heroes, a program to honor individuals in our community who spread holiday cheer in special and unsung ways.  

  • Phil Emerson – Phil is a pastor at a small church in Apple Valley and he has been known to organize free oil changes for single parents in his congregation. In addition, he prepares holiday baskets for those in need and arranges housing for those in crisis.
  • Jamie James – Jamie works as a nurse for the Job Corps Center in St. Paul with crazy hours and additional stress during this pandemic. She works diligently to keep everyone around her safe, including her husband and three children.
  • Vicki Lachinski – Vicki uses her talents to assist others. She enjoys knitting and makes newborn hats, mittens and booties that she donates to local hospitals for new mothers.  She also knits hat and arm pillows for those undergoing chemotherapy. In addition, she has crafted teddy bears which she donates to local EMTs and paramedics so they can share them with young children who are frightened during a dramatic event.
  • Sarah Stadler – Sarah works at Regions hospital working with Covid patients. Often times the hospital has been short staffed during this pandemic so Sarah will work double shifts. Since friends and families of the patients aren’t allowed into the hospital, she has been holding patients’ hands as they pass so they have someone there with them.

Hiway Holiday Heroes is being conducted in conjunction with GLOW: The Great Minnesota Holiday Get-Together, the largest holiday light show in Minnesota history. Hiway is the presenting sponsor of the first year-event underway at the Minnesota State Fairgrounds.

These four recipients will be honored at GLOW during upcoming nights; Emerson on Dec. 9, Lachinski on Dec. 17, Stadler on Dec. 18 and James on Dec. 21.

The community is encouraged to nominate an unheralded person who helps to make the holidays brighter for others. Nominations can be made at hiway.org/holiday-heroes.

For more information on GLOW, please visit glowholiday.com or view our press release. When customers use the access key “HIWAY” when purchasing tickets to their desired date, GLOW will donate $2 from every ticket purchased to the Hiway Credit Union Foundation.