77 Lake Orion kids get a Merrier Christmas

By Jim Newell

Review Editor

It was an evening of heroes and happiness for 77 kids during the Lake Orion Police Department and Friends Shop with a Hero event Dec. 19 at the Auburn Hills Target store.

And while 76 heroes – LOPD officers, Star EMS, FBI agents, Oakland University Police, Holly police, Michigan State Troopers, military personnel from the Navy, Army and Marines – attended the event, the real stars of the night were the kids who will have a much merrier Christmas this year.

The program is open to elementary-age children whose families may be experiencing financial hardship, but also to kids who have suffered trauma or severe health issues.

All of the kids were from Lake Orion elementary schools, said LOPD Reserve Sgt. Paul Leming, who organized the event.

“Target’s phenomenal. We create utter chaos in the toy section and they actually order more toys for this event,” Leming said, adding that Target welcomes Shop with a Hero each year and closes the cafe for the kids and heroes.

Hungry Howie’s donated all the pizza that the kids and heroes fueled up on before heading out shopping.

Each child at Shop with a Hero gets $125 gift card to purchase items for themselves and other family members. They also get an opportunity to pick out a gift for a sibling who did not attend the event.

Hali’s and Drew’s Books had a table, so kids could pick out a book or two to take home, and Lake Orion students and parents volunteered at the gift wrapping and giving tables. Volunteers from Lake Orion elementary schools manned the food counter, handing out pizza to the heroes and kids.

The program began after an Orion resident who had stage four cancer went to former Lake Orion Police Chief Jerry Narsh with $3,000 and asked him to help children who wouldn’t otherwise have a Christmas.

The program has expanded so much since its beginning, that funds to support Shop with a Hero now come from the Lake Orion Police Association, fundraisers and community donations.

For more photos see the Dec. 25 issue of The Lake Orion Review.