Smyrna\u2019s\u00a0local\u00a0heroes\u00a0will\u00a0help\u00a0give\u00a0local\u00a0children\u00a0a\u00a0brighter\u00a0holiday\u00a0season\u00a0during\u00a0the\u00a0annual\u00a0Shop\u00a0with\u00a0a Hero.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
For more than 20 years,\u00a0the\u00a0Smyrna\u00a0Fire\u00a0and Police departments have collaborated\u00a0with\u00a0the\u00a0Smyrna\u00a0Public Safety Foundation to organize\u00a0Shop\u00a0with\u00a0a\u00a0Hero\u00a0to benefit\u00a0local\u00a0children\u00a0and ensure\u00a0they enjoy\u00a0a\u00a0merry\u00a0holiday\u00a0season. This year,\u00a0the\u00a0Smyrna Public Safety Foundation is\u00a0also teaming up\u00a0with\u00a0the\u00a0Atlanta\u00a0Braves\u00a0and\u00a0their \u201cSeason\u00a0of Giving\u201d presented by Truist to\u00a0help amplify\u00a0the\u00a0holiday\u00a0spirit\u00a0across\u00a0the\u00a0local\u00a0community.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
On Dec. 13, Smyrna police, fire and paramedics will shop with over 80 students from eight Cobb County elementary schools at a local Walmart in Austell. Each child will be gifted $250 to buy essentials and toys for themselves and their family.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cThe children in this program come with many hardships but will leave this day with gifts for their families and joy in their hearts,\u201d Denise Czarnik, executive director of the Smyrna Public Safety Foundation, said. \u201cThis program is the true embodiment of the holiday season, and we wouldn\u2019t be able to do it without the support of the local community.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The program raises money year-round to help local children and their families during the holiday season. The children, chosen by their counselors from Smyrna\u2019s elementary schools, are paired with a uniformed member of the fire or police department and spend a morning at Walmart shopping for necessities and gifts for themselves and their families.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
After shopping, the Atlanta Braves Foundation<\/a> will host these students and chaperones at Truist Park for a catered lunch, photos with Santa, holiday-inspired arts and crafts, and more. <\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cWe have a deep respect for our public safety servants and are grateful for their consistent investment in our communities. Our local police and fire departments are fantastic partners in helping us build community through baseball,\u201d said Danielle Bedasse, Atlanta Braves Vice President of Community Affairs and Executive Director of the Atlanta Braves Foundation. \u201cWe are proud to partner with the Smyrna Public Safety Foundation and sponsor this year\u2019s Shop with a Hero<\/em> event as part of our Season of Giving efforts, sponsored by Truist. We hope this will bring some holiday joy to our neighbors in need.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n Shop with a Hero also provides a holiday meal to the families of these participating children.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Anyone who wants to support Shop with a Hero can donate to the Smyrna Public Safety Foundation at smyrnapsf.org<\/a> or by mail to P.O. Box 2216, Smyrna, GA 30081. Donations to the 501(c)3 organization are tax deductible.<\/p>\n\n\n\n