First responders help kids shop for Christmas at Neosho Walmart

NEOSHO, Mo. — First responders spent their morning helping kids and families shop for Christmas.

87 kids and 33 families grabbed a cart and got to shopping for the 24th annual Shop with a Hero campaign at the Neosho Walmart Supercenter.

Each kid was given $170 to shop with.

Those funds covered toys and necessities like baby diapers or wipes - and were tax-exempt.

Heroes who volunteered to shop with kids and families were - Neosho police and EMS - faculty and staff of the Neosho School District - Newton County deputies - officers from the probation-parole and juvenile offices - and firefighters from the Redings Mill Fire Protection District.

"Just a lot of smiles on the kid's face and, you know, gives like I said, it gives our guys and girls a chance to build some rapport and and and I guess just put a make their day. You know, it it makes our day just as much as it does the kids," said Lt. Mike Sharp, Neosho Police Department.

In 2023, $17,000 was raised for the program.

This year, the shopping was done with $15,000 donated by businesses, residents, and the Neosho Walmart.