Police Announce ‘Shop with a Hero’ Christmas 2013 Event: How to Help

The Lake Orion Police Department hopes to make Christmas merry for some of the youngest victims of a still distressed Michigan economy with its “Shop with a Hero” event on Dec. 12 at Oxford Meijer Store.

“We are faced with tremendous challenges to meet our goals that no child in the Orion area is without the miracle and magic of Christmas morning,” Police Chief Jerry R. Narsh said in a news release. “The challenges of a distressed Michigan economy is relentless on those who are struggling to provide even the basic needs for a family with small children, Christmas morning will either be filled with stress, or joy.”

Last year, the “heroes” – police officers, soldiers and FBI agents – took 57 children shopping. That was down from 100 children served in 2011.

This year, times are as tough as or harder than last year, Narsh said, meaning it will be more difficult to raise the money necessary to put on the Shop with a Hero program.

“But it also means there are more children, who, without our combined help, may see Christmas come and go, like any other day.”

As they take children shopping, the men and women of the Lake Orion Police Department will be joined by soldiers of the 1775th Military Police Company of Pontiac, as well as special agents from the FBI’s Troy office.

Additionally, the Oxford Meijer store will be providing a complete Christmas dinner to each family represented.

“The economic storm in Michigan has impacted almost every family in one way or another,” Narsh emphasized. “The ability as a community to come together and relive some of that pressure for those hardest hit while also providing an opportunity for children to spend time with real American heroes is what makes this program so unique.”

Here’s how you can help: