Press release from the Hendersonville Police Department:
Police Chief Herbert Blake announces the 5th Annual “Shop with a Hero” event to take place on Tuesday, Dec. 4, 2018. Five students from each of Henderson County Public Schools’ 13 elementary schools will be paired with a local or a regional first responder Monday and given $100 to spend at the Wal-Mart store in Hendersonville during the city’s third “Shop with A Hero” event.
The event and its response from students and school counselors has grown so large, uniformed officers and other first responders from all over the region have been called in to participate. Deputies with the Henderson County and the Buncombe County Sheriffs’ Offices, officers with the Fletcher and Asheville Police Departments, and firefighters from the Asheville Fire Department will join Hendersonville police officers for this community outreach event.
Student participation was not based solely on financial need, according to Matthew Gruebmeyer, Director of Elementary Education. Gruebmeyer said school counselors selected students who display leadership potential, who need a boost in self-esteem, or who are consistently giving back to their classmates, schools and community.
After shopping, the students will be treated to a pizza lunch sponsored by Henderson County First Restoration Services in Fletcher; and the Henderson County Public School System is waiving the bus fees, so transportation for students to the event is free. The shopping spree itself is funded through a Wal-Mart Foundation Grant, an Elks Lodge #1616 Grant and the City of Hendersonville.
Students are scheduled to arrive at Wal-Mart (250 Highlands Square Drive, Hendersonville) at 8:30 a.m. Monday, and will meet their first responder shopping assistants at 10 a.m., and will begin shopping at 11 a.m.
For more information, contact Lieutenant Mike Vesely at 828-697-3025 or mvesely@hvlnc.gov.
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