Children ‘Shop with a Hero’ in Austin

The aisles at the Austin Walmart were crowded Wednesday evening as 50 local children got to shop with first responders during the annual Shop With a Hero event.

Members of the Austin Fire and Police Departments, the Mower County Sheriff’s Office, and
Gold Cross Ambulance Service shopped with the children as they picked out toys and other gifts for Christmas.

The gifts were purchased with a $2,500 grant Walmart awarded to the Austin Fire Department. All gifts were wrapped on site.

Walmart also donated food to each of the children.

Austin Police giving out gift cards

The Austin Police Officer’s Association is hoping to make the holidays a little brighter for 30 lucky individuals.

According to Austin Police Lt. John Mueller, the APOA has purchased $1,500 worth of gift cards, a total of 30, from Kwik Trip. Each member of the APOA was given one to give out at random.