First responder heroes make Christmas bright

Santa enlists a special team each year to take children Christmas shopping. The event, Shop with a Hero, was Saturday.

Poplar Bluff Police Officer Zach Tubb said this unique assignment took place at the Walmart Supercenter with 55 children participating.

Santa’s special task force was made up of Poplar Bluff Police officers, Missouri State Highway Patrol officers, Butler County EMS and Medic One personnel, Poplar Bluff firefighters and officers from the State Fire Marshal’s Office.

Trooper Kyle Huggins and Cayden Dugger, 7, head to checkout with a cart full of new toys. DAR photos/Courtney Kayser

The heroes arrived at 6 a.m., and Tubb has been lucky enough have this duty five years.

Tubb said, “usually kids will start lining up around 6:15. You’ll start hearing them talk about what they want. They’ll talk to one another and try to figure out what they want. Each one will bounce ideas off of one another.”

The heroes take one child or if their siblings are invited, they might all shop together.

“We will get to know them a little, talk to them, ask them what they’re wanting,” Tubb said. “You know what grade they’re in. We’ll take our time, give them time to adjust since it’s so early in the morning.”

Then, “it’s just pure excitement since it is an early Christmas,” he said. “Especially for those who are not thinking they’re going to have a Christmas or not have what they want. We help them try to decide what they want, help them find it, pick it out.”

With their special gifts selected, the heroes take them to check out and “back to mom and dad. Usually mom and dad are pretty grateful for the experience and the kids are always happy,” Tubb said.

Fraternal Order of Police organize the fundraising each year and Tubb is the lodge’s secretary.

COVID-19 caused donations to lag in the beginning, but, Tubb said, “we had a few public fundraisers and I think that really helped spread the word. After that, the donations started picking back up and we were able to fund the Shop with a Hero event.”

Tubb said he spoke to several families who are new to the community.

“They were not only grateful, but in disbelief that we do this. That we’ve been doing it for so long,” he said. “So, on top of the tradition of helping children, we are able to help families, help our community. We were able to influence newcomers to the community. It’s something we hope to carry on for future years.”

While fewer youngsters participated this year, “we normally have 100 to 125,” he said. “We’re looking at other opportunities to help families in the community for Christmas. We’re working with other entities to try to do something else. We had a few very generous donations come in from individuals at the end of fundraising. So we were able to fund the event and have a little bit left over.”