The Small Foundation That Produces Big Results

By Mark Hoerrner

Four people—a former sailor, a jewelry representative, a reserve police officer and a homemaker—have found a way to change the lives of the residents of Acworth, GA, and surrounding areas.

In 1998, the four—Ron and Angela Papaleoni and Bob and Lori Weatherford, founded the first "Shop with A Cop" program in Acworth, Ga., expecting to buy clothes and toys for 48 underprivileged children in the area. That first year, they raised money and prepared for the 50 or so children to join them at Kohl’s Dept. Stores. More than 70 children showed up.

The program grew and grew until local churches had joined in and the four invited all emergency workers and soldiers to participate, officially renaming the event "Shop with A Hero" in honor of the events of Sept. 11, 2001. In 2006, more than 1,500 children were served, each getting a $100 gift card, tons of love and affection and the chance to shop with a live hero—a police officer, a fire fighter, a soldier or an EMS worker.

Children arrive on buses laden with volunteers who engage the children with jokes and Christmas singalongs and are checked into a receiving line. From there, they are paired with a Hero and a volunteer who will assist them with shopping. The first commandment is usually the simplest to follow—make sure the child has warm clothes for the winter, then look to toys. Often, just buying clothes takes up most of the gift card, but it is common to see the hero and the volunteer picking up the tab on a few toys.

"The most amazing thing to see is how these children think," says Ron Papaleoni, a former U.S. Navy NCO and now a full-time "servant leader." "You hand them money and the first thing they want to do is spend it on other people—family, friends, whoever—and think last about themselves."

More than 800 volunteers now turn out for the event. A local assisted living home brings out its residents who are provided with the love and affection of the children shopping in the store. Santa Claus arrives in a stretch Hummer and distributes gifts to the children. Other public service groups, such as an organization that provides blankets for mothers with babies, are on hand for the event. Police safety organizations hand out helmets for children with bikes and gun locks for parents who own firearms. Children are taught about fire safety with a unique traveling display and a number of musicians entertain the crowds that begin showing up sometimes as early as 6 a.m. to get the project started.

Held in conjunction with the event is "Christmas Choppers," a motorcycle ride that benefits The Joy Foundation. This year, Papaleoni has been orchestrating the "Heroes FORE Golf Tournament" to be held at the Bentwater County Club.

The event, which started with four people, now directly touches thousands.