Local heroes trade emergency calls for shopping carts at annual Elks event

Saturday morning, local heroes traded emergency calls for shopping carts, helping 40 children gear up for a new school year with new clothes, new confidence and plenty of smiles.

The annual Shop with a Hero event, sponsored by Kimberling City Elks Lodge No. 2505, brought together Elks members and their spouses, area first responders, Branson West Walmart and Unite Table Rock Lake volunteers to help local children prepare for the school year.

The Elks provided the resources for the event, with members and their spouses volunteering throughout the morning. Each child was paired with a first responder who walked the aisles alongside them, helping pick out new school clothes while sharing encouragement and plenty of fun.

Carrie Padilla, community liaison for the Stone County Health Department and president of Unite Table Rock Lake, said the event helps ease the strain of back-to-school expenses while giving children the opportunity to begin the school year feeling confident and supported.

“The Elks, area first responders, Branson West Walmart and Unite Table Rock Lake came together with one common goal: to make sure local children know their community believes in them,” Padilla said. 

For volunteer Christy Herbert, the heart of the morning could be seen in the children’s faces and the connections they made with their heroes.

“I think one of my favorite parts was watching them come back after shopping with big smiles on their faces, so excited to show off what they got,” Herbert said.

“The sweetest part was watching them get paired up with a hero. Some would start off shy but then return with a new best friend!”

Judy McCurdy of the Kimberling City Elks Auxiliary said she and her husband, Mark, a member of Kimberling City Elks Lodge No. 2505, were honored to once again participate in this event to support local children.

“My husband and I were honored to once again participate in the Shop with a Hero event while representing the Kimberling City Elks and Elks Auxiliary,” McCurdy said. “It is so heartwarming to see the excitement on the faces of the kids as they select their own school clothing. We are so proud to belong to an organization that cares so much about those in need.”

With 40 children heading into the new school year with new clothes, encouragement and a few new friendships, the Elks’ annual Shop with a Hero was once again a success, highlighting what can happen when a community comes together for its kids.

Kimberling City Elks Lodge No. 2505 on social media thanked the Elks and their spouses, first responders, Branson West Walmart and Unite Table Rock Lake for helping make the event a success, ending with the words that capture the heart of the organization: “Elks care, Elks share.”