Tribe sponsoring Shop With a Hero on Dec. 13

The Confederated Tribes of Grand Ronde, Willamina School District and West Valley Fire Department will sponsor the first annual "Shop With a Hero" event on Saturday, Dec. 13, at the Dallas Wal-Mart store.

Modeled after the "Shop With the Sheriff" program, which was moved from Willamina to the Falls City School District this year, "Shop With a Hero" will have Willamina School District counselors identify 25 children to shop for Christmas gifts with Tribal police officers, West Valley firefighters and emergency medical technicians, and other volunteers, such as teachers and military personnel and veterans.

The Tribe's Social Services Department will drive the children to Wal-Mart and Tribal Council has donated funds for each child to have a $50 shopping limit and a meal gift card for their family. After the shopping spree, the children will be brought back to the Tribal Community Center, where they will wrap their Christmas gifts to take home. They also will receive a goody bag.

"Since our department is so small, we need all the volunteers we can get," Police Records and Evidence Technician Mindy Lane said. "We are calling our event 'Shop With a Hero' and we are inviting West Valley Fire to participate, and will be soliciting volunteers from other backgrounds as well to participate."

The three Tribal vans will be driven by Grand Ronde Police Chief Al LaChance, Social Services Department Manager David Fullerton and Tribal Council Chairman Reyn Leno.

The event is for children selected by the school district.

"The children are specifically selected by the school counselors based on a variety of factors," Lane said.