Local police, firefighters continue heroic tradition

Twin Lakes Police Chief Adam Grosz helps a child with shoes at Walmart in Lake Geneva, where the Twin Lakes officials held their annual Shop with a Hero event (Earlene Frederick/The Report).

Lakewood, Randall students shop with heroes

By Jason Arndt
Staff Writer

Since 2004, the Twin Lakes Professional Police Association has given hope to children in the annual Shop with a Hero event.

It has helped 334 children and involves multiple public service agencies whose members take them shopping, according to a Twin Lakes Police Department news release.

This year, 24 students from Lakewood and Randall Consolidated schools were selected to take part Dec. 10, when they headed to Walmart in Lake Geneva for a $200 shopping spree.

Lakewood’s District Administrator, Joe Price, who has participated as a volunteer for nine straight years, said Shop with a Hero is a rewarding experience for students.

“It’s really awesome to be there, they were incredibly giddy,” said Price, who could not attend this year’s event due to a family obligation. “It was a great way to the connect with community and the police department.”

Each student is paired with a Twin Lakes police officer, emergency dispatcher, EMT or firefighter at the event.

All money is raised through donations from local businesses with a major donation from the Genoa City Lions Club, Lake Geneva Walmart and We Back the Badge Inc.

“Many of the children bought presents for family and friends,” the release states. “Volunteers from Lakewood School, Randall School Optimist Club and family members of the heroes wrapped gifts for the children.”

Meanwhile, Price extended gratitude to the Lakewood School PTO for pitching in and Twin Lakes officials for continuing the event.

“I just want to thank the school PTO and police, fire department for helping out,” Price said.

Following the event, the students went to Driftwood Restaurant in Twin Lakes, where they had a pizza party with their families and heroes of the day.

Additional Photos, provided by the Twin Lakes Police Department below:

Group photo of officials and students (Photo credit Gary Saunders).
EMT Brandon Jones and Zoe Steffensen (Photo credit: Faith Cooper).
Officer Bob Santelli and Elizabeth Craig (Photo credit: Faith Cooper)

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