Shop With a Hero Event Helps Students in Need
From back left to right: Sparky from MCF&R, Debra Perkins from The Salvation Army, Amy Crichton-Tunai from Fred Meyer-The Dalles, Dave Lutgens & Dave Long from St. Vincent De Paul Society of The Dalles, and The Dalles Lions members: Jeff Stiles, Carolyn Layson and Kate Mast greet students and parents as they arrive. Photo Credit: Mike Kilkenny
By Cole Goodwin
On August 13th, 2022 volunteers from Mid-Columbia Fire and Rescue, The Dalles Lions Club, Wasco County Sheriff’s Department, Oregon State Police, Salvation Army and St. Vincent de Paul gathered at Fred Meyer for the 4th annual Shop With a Hero event, which supports economically disadvantaged students and parents go back to school shopping.
The Salvation Army purchased sixty hundred dollar gift cards for the event.
Fifty-two kindergarteners and first, second, third, fourth, and fifth graders and their parents began arriving at around 9:30 a.m. to participate.
In the far left, a student is escorted into the store by a hero and their parent. in the middle of the photo Chief Bob Palmer of MCF&R talks to MCF&R personnel. On the right side of photo local heroes wait to go shopping. Photo Credit: Mike Kilkenny
Parents and students were paired up with volunteer first responders, who accompanied them to get new shoes, back to school clothes, paper, pens, backpacks and other school supplies.
“This event is a way we can provide many kids with a positive first experience meeting a firefighter or a police officer,” said Kristen Harmon, Social Services Director at the Salvation Army. “That way, if they have an emergency, they know they can go to them for help.”
“All the first responders that came had big hearts and went above and beyond for their community and these kids,” said Harmon. “They all had positive experiences with the students.”
A Fred Meyer staff member hands out donuts to local heroes waiting to start shopping. Photo Credit: Mike Kilkenny
Fred Meyer supplied snacks and had two checkouts running just for the event.
“Some of the kids went over the limit. But we had some discretionary funds so no one had to put anything back because they exceeded their gift card limit,” said Harmon.
The event put over $5,000 into supporting local students.
“The parents and kids had fun and they got what they needed and that’s what matters,” said Dave Lutgens, Executive Director of St. Vincent de Paul.
Harmon agreed, “It was a great success. Parents and kids had big smiles as they were leaving the checkstands and they thanked us for helping them out. And almost all the kids said they were excited about going back to school now.“
Harmon said she hopes to see the event grow in the future.
“We are still a relatively small project, but we hope to make the program bigger in the future. We had some challenges this year, we’re transitioning some things at the Salvation Army, and COVID-19 and money was a little tighter this year. But it feels great that we were able to pull the event together despite those challenges.”
More About Shop With a Hero
Each year The Dalles Salvation Army and St. Vincent de Paul team up for Shop with a Hero back to school event. Parents can sign up their students to shop for their Back to School needs with a local Hero. This event is held annually in August at Fred Meyer.
To be eligible your students need to be in K-5th grades, qualified income level and reside in Wasco or Hood River Counties.
Sign-up is required and sign-up locations include The Salvation Army and St. Vincent de Paul. You will need to bring a proof of students age, your ID, proof of income, residence.
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