Ottawa County’s ‘Shop with a Hero’ serves nearly 175 children, expects to grow in 2026
Dozens of children and emergency services officials participated in “Shop with a Hero” that took place Dec. 2-11 in Jenison, Grand Haven and Hudsonville.
OTTAWA COUNTY — A young boy stood with a sheriff’s deputy inside a local Meijer store with a $100 gift card to spend.
He told Ottawa County Sheriff’s Office Sgt. Jacob MacKeller that he would like to get his four siblings and his parents gifts with the money, and if there was anything left, then he would buy himself something.
MacKeller and the boy were among dozens of children and emergency services officials participating in “Shop with a Hero” that took place Dec. 2-11 in Jenison, Grand Haven and Hudsonville.
The program provides area school kids a $100 gift card and involves local emergency services officials to shop with them. MacKeller said the experience is something he looks forward to each season.
This year was no exception.
“We start shopping and he sees stuff for brother and sister and I see he’s spending above the amount he had, so I reminded him that ‘if you spend that much, it’s going to take away from your own gift,’” MacKeller said. “But he did not care at all, in fact, by the time we got done, he wouldn’t even have enough to get himself anything.”
Dozens of children and emergency services officials participated in “Shop with a Hero” that took place Dec. 2-11 in Jenison, Grand Haven and Hudsonville. [Courtesy]
He ultimately found a jersey he wanted and, with a little help, was able to buy it for himself.
“He didn’t care that he was going to be left with less or nothing at all,” he said. “He was more worried about getting something for his siblings, which I thought was just amazing, especially for a fifth or sixth grader. For a kid that age to do something like that is huge.”
The moment was one of dozens that unfolded this month during the annual event, a holiday tradition spanning more than a decade in Ottawa County.
The program, which pairs local children with law enforcement officers, firefighters and medical personnel, aims to do more than just provide gifts—it seeks to foster positive relationships between youth and first responders.
This year’s event saw a significant turnout, with nearly 175 children participating across the three municipalities. Dozens of law enforcement and emergency services officials volunteered to walk the aisles, many of them participating on their own time.
"The majority of the deputies that are doing it, they’re not on duty," MacKeller said. "They’re not being paid to do it. They do it just out of their own kindness."
The logistics are a community-wide effort. School resource officers partner with "homeless liaisons" within local school districts to identify families facing financial hardship. These liaisons are often the first to notice families struggling with basic needs, from utility bills to winter coats.
"We go to them because they know the families who are at risk of maybe not being able to get their kids Christmas presents," MacKeller said. "They know the families that are truthfully trying, but have the greatest need."
Funding for the event primarily comes from Meijer. This year, the retailer’s Grand Haven location increased its typical $5,000 contribution to $8,500. While the Hudsonville location’s funding was slightly lower, the Baker Automotive Group stepped in to cover the remaining costs. In addition to the financial donations, one business also helped shelter those involved in the event.
Taylor True Value Rental donated a tent to shelter those involved from the frigid weather, providing some heat while they wrapped gifts.
For the first responders, the evening serves as a necessary emotional reprieve, MacKeller said. In a profession often defined by crisis, MacKeller describes the experience as a "bucket filler."
"A lot of what we do just drains your bucket," MacKeller said. "This is a bucket-filling event because you get to see the great community that we serve."
The impact of the program is set to grow in 2026.
The event plans to expand to a fourth location in Holland Township, bringing the total number of participating retail sites to four.
MacKeller said he is excited to see the program serve even more children in the region.
“It’s amazing,” he said. “It’s really, really amazing.”
— Heather VanDyke covers northern Ottawa County for the Ottawa News Network. Contact her at hvandyke@ottawanewsnetwork.org.
