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First responders team up to provide Christmas to 27 area families in need
The Monroe News
First responders team up to provide Christmas to 27 area families in need
By Caitlin Taylor Boron
The pandemic has complicated an already stressful time of year.
But putting presents under the Christmas tree is one less worry for a Newport family who was selected, along with nearly 30 other local families, as recipients of Christmas gifts delivered by Santa’s helpers disguised as police and fire personnel.
Angela Wignle on Thursday accepted a trunk load of wrapped presents for her four children, Janessa Lunay, 14; Ethan Lunay, 13; Isabella Lunay, 11; and Kaitlin Wingle, 9, during the annual “Shop with a Hero” event sponsored by Michigan State Police of the Monroe post and other area first responders.
Although the event was modified in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, the magic of Christmas was not lost among the dozen first responder agencies and other donors who shopped for about 60 children whose families were identified as being in need of holiday cheer.
Flashing police and fire lights lined the entrance to Monroe Meijer, paving the way for a parade of families to caravan past numerous police, fire and medical personnel, along with Airport Community Schools’ staff and other community members.
“I have never had a lot of help, growing up and raising my kids, and being a single mom for a while was a very hard time,” Wingle told The Monroe News Thursday night.
“You never know what’s out there, or the help you can get, until you get it, and when you do, it’s just so overwhelming... I’m not an emotional person, but if I was, I would be crying.”
