The holiday spirit came alive on Saturday, December 21, as Walmart in Minden hosted its first-ever “Shop with a Hero” event, pairing 30 children with local emergency responders for a memorable shopping experience.
The children, selected with the help of the Webster Parish School District, each received $100 and a 10% discount to shop for toys, clothes, and other items of their choice. Accompanied by police officers, firefighters, and paramedics, the young shoppers filled their carts with holiday cheer.
The event began with a striking arrival: a caravan of emergency vehicles, lights flashing, pulled up to the store, creating a festive scene that surprised other Walmart shoppers. Inside, Mrs. Claus was on hand to take photos and spread additional holiday cheer.
The event was well-received by participants and organizers alike. The Minden Police Association expressed gratitude on social media, stating, “We would like to thank Walmart for including us in their first annual ‘Shop with a Hero.’ This year, 30 local kids got to shop with a local hero and take pictures with Mrs. Claus. Thank you for supporting such a great event!”
Pafford Emergency Medical Services echoed the sentiment, posting, “We were honored to join Walmart this morning in Minden, LA for their first annual ‘Shop with a Hero.’ This heartwarming event gave 30 local kids the chance to shop alongside local heroes and snap photos with Mrs. Claus. Thank you for allowing us to be a part of this special day!”
Walmart plans to continue this new tradition, aiming to bring even more smiles to local families next year.
