93.9 The Eagle – The News and Talk of Columbia, MO
12 families throughout Columbia and Boone County who have suffered tragedy will be enjoying a brighter Christmas this year, thanks to the generosity of first responders, Walmart and the public.
First Responder Support (FRS) hosted the recent “Shop with a Hero” event at the Walmart on Columbia’s Grindstone Parkway. FRS interim executive director Rick Rowden tells 939 the Eagle about 40 first responders participated that evening. All of them volunteered to participate.
“It was exciting for me to be … this is my first year to be a part of it. And I was just blessed to just see the smiles on the faces and the way that they interacted with our first responders. It was just a fantastic event,” Rowden says.
First Responder Support is an organization that promotes goodwill between first responders and the community. Mr. Rowden praises the generosity of two local Walmart stores, which provided a $3,000 grant for the event. He also praises the Columbia Police Officers Association (CPOA) and the Columbia Professional Firefighters, which also contributed to the event. Each of the 12 families was given a $500 Walmart gift card.
The 12 families who were selected have been impacted by gun violence, domestic violence or suicide. FRS’ Rowden says Boone County Community Against Violence co-founder Shaunda Hamilton and her group identified the 12 families who participated.
“She has just given her heart and soul to that and she is responsible for identifying these families and bringing them here (the Walmart on Columbia’s Grindstone Parkway) tonight. She has such a rapport with those people because they all share the same common thread and that’s there’s been some impact from suicide, violence, you know loss of life of daughter or son,” says Rowden.
Ms. Hamilton founded Boone County Community Against Violence after her 18-year-old daughter, Nadria Wright, was shot to death in 2019 after leaving the McDonald’s on Columbia’s Business Loop, where she had picked up a milk shake.
