By Jim Newell
Review Writer
Mrs. Claus and Belle the Reindeer, carolers and kids, hot chocolate and a community Christmas tree lighting and that festive feeling that permeates the air when a community comes together for holiday merriment and a good cause.
It was a quintessential downtown Christmas celebration Saturday at Children’s Park off Broadway Street for the more than 100 people who showed up to share in the yuletide joy, with proceeds from the event benefiting the Shop with a Hero program.
“Our saying is that no child in Lake Orion goes without Christmas,” said Lake Orion Police Chief Jerry Narsh. “This is our tenth year doing this and it always works out that we have just enough to cover all the kids.”
The Shop with a Hero program raises money for Lake Orion Police Dept. officers to go shopping with children who might otherwise be unable to get presents this holiday season.
The goal for this year’s Shop with a Hero is $3,000, Narsh said, and with that the police department should be able to purchase presents for about 150 children.
On Saturday, Knude Products, which organized the event, presented Narsh with a check for $875, but had raised an additional $300 for the program after writing the check.
Anyone wishing to donate can do so at the Lake Orion Police Dept., 21 E. Church St., or by calling 248-69-8321.
Narsh and Village Council President Ken Van Portfliet led the tree lighting ceremony, with World War II veteran Howard “Red” McCarrick flipping the switch to light the tree.
The Orion Area Chamber of Commerce and the Downtown Development Authority sponsored the tree lighting ceremony and organized the event in conjunction with area businesses.
Knude Products and Northern Flooring created woodchip holiday tree ornaments that people could purchase, decorate and hang on the community Christmas tree. The ornaments are for sale at several area businesses.
Several area businesses helped out:The Goddard School provided the reindeer, Lockhart’s BBQ and Crates Coffeehouse sold hot chocolate, coffee and other goods with 100 percent of proceeds benefitting Shop with a Hero.