By Danielle Smith
Leader Staff Writer

The Oxford Meijer was full of smiles and laughs this past Thursday as children and adults alike participated in the annual Shop with a Hero event.

At the event, children were paired with first responders who volunteered their time to take the kids on a shopping spree throughout

the store. Children selected special items not only for themselves, but for their parents and siblings as well.
“The kids had a great time. They were excited and I think the firefighters were having just as much fun following behind them and acting like a kid again, too,” said Pete Scholz, Oxford Fire Department Chief.
Along with personnel from the Oxford Fire Department, Meijer was filled with “heroes” from the Addison, Brandon and Orion Fire departments, the Oxford Village Police

Department, Oakland County Sheriff’s Department and Oxford-Addison Youth Assistance.
While the event has grown exponentially since it first began in 2007, many heroes choose

to return year after year because of the “good feeling” they receive from helping out.
“You take these people that are down on their luck, possibly children that might not have gotten a Christmas and give them an unexpected surprise, so it’s a lot of fun,” Scholz said.
Aside from browsing the aisles, the children were able to spend extra time with the first responders over a meal donated by 24th Street Sports Tavern, in downtown Oxford.