Hundreds Of Newark Kids Treated To Shopping Spree With Local ‘Heroes’ (PHOTOS)

NEWARK, NJ — The following news release comes courtesy of the United Community Corporation. Find out how to post announcements or events to your local Patch site.

Holiday spirits were bright in downtown Newark on Dec. 6 as 250 children received a donated $100 gift card to enjoy a holiday shopping excursion while walking hand-in-hand with a community leader during United Community Corporation’s (UCC) 5th Annual Shop With a Hero event.

UCC, which has hosted the program since 2021 in partnership with the City of Newark, works with local schools and community agencies each year to gift Newark youth from low- to moderate-income families with a day of celebration, mentorship, and holiday shopping along Broad and Market streets.

The event has grown into a beloved city tradition, strengthening the bond between youth and the community leaders who support them, including police officers, firefighters, first responders, educators, service members, and civic leaders.

This year, heroes and youth walked side-by-side from Newark Symphony Hall to participating stores, creating lasting memories along the way. For the first time, the celebration also featured a festive holiday parade led by a float donated by Camacho Floats, complete with animated reindeer and seasonal décor.

“Shop With a Hero is one of the most meaningful traditions we host each year because it gives our children a chance to connect with the everyday heroes and community leaders who inspire them,” said UCC Executive Director Craig Mainor. “This event is about more than a shopping trip. It’s a day of joy, mentorship and positive connection that reminds our youth that their community stands firmly behind them. We’re deeply grateful to our partners and supporters whose generosity makes this day possible and helps us pour love and opportunity back into the community.”

Newark Mayor Ras Baraka emphasized the deeper social impact of the event.

“This annual event embodies the love and generosity of the holiday season and instills in these kids and their families a strong sense of belonging to the community and trusting in our public safety professionals,” said Baraka. “I am grateful to the sponsors and volunteers who have committed themselves to creating happy memories and a sense of value and inclusion that will hopefully last a lifetime.”

“This is so much more than an act of charity on the part of the city and our partners. It is an act that shows these families that Newark embraces them, supports them and protects them at a time when there is so much instability in our society,” added Newark Deputy Mayor of Community Engagement Jacqueline Quiles-Mercado. “I thank UCC, and every sponsor, for their effort that made today possible and demonstrated the strength of their commitment to the people of Newark.”

The event kicked off with festive celebrations inside Newark Symphony Hall, where children, heroes, staff, and partners gathered for holiday treats, enjoyed live entertainment from DJ R.A. Rob Alvarez, and heard welcoming remarks from UCC leadership, city officials, and sponsors.

After the ceremony, children were paired with their heroes to begin their shopping experience. Together, they made their way through downtown Newark, visiting stores such as Nike, GameStop, Burlington and Snipes. Children selected gifts while enjoying one-on-one time and mentorship from their hero.

The event concluded at Old First Presbyterian Church on Broad Street, where each child received a special gift from UCC made possible by a donation from The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Each family received a bag of groceries for the holiday season.

Beyond holiday shopping, the event gives young people meaningful opportunities to build connections with the leaders who serve their community each day. By walking with police officers, firefighters, EMTs, educators and local leaders, children experience positive mentorship in real time, helping them feel valued and supported,

“Matching the heroes of the Newark Police and Fire Divisions with Newark children during the Shop With a Hero event becomes increasingly rewarding for our members each year,” said Newark Public Safety Director Emanuel Miranda, Sr. “We are immensely grateful for United Community Corporation’s partnership with the Newark Department of Public Safety in support of our ongoing work to strengthen our connection to the community through this generous holiday shopping event.”

This year’s heroes represented a wide range of professions and agencies from across Newark and beyond, including the New Jersey Institute of Technology Department of Public Safety; Rutgers University Police; the CPR Foundation; Essex County Sheriff’s Office; New Jersey State Police; Port Authority Police Department; U.S. Army; Nirvana Healthcare; RWJBarnabas Health and Newark Beth Israel Medical Center; and educators from Newark’s district and charter schools.

UCC Board Chair John Jewell reflected on the mission and the milestone of five years of impact.

“We created Shop With a Hero to continue bringing joy and hope to the children we serve, support their families during the holiday season, and honor the incredible work of our local heroes,” said Jewell. “For the past five years, this event has given our youth a meaningful opportunity to shop with, learn from, and connect with a hero who chooses to give their time to uplift our community. I cannot thank our heroes and partners enough for showing up, and I am deeply grateful to our donors whose generosity makes moments like this possible. A heartfelt thank you to the UCC staff, volunteers, and Board of Directors for their unwavering dedication. Their commitment is what keeps this tradition each year alive and thriving.”

This year’s Shop With a Hero was made possible through the support of: PNC Bank; The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints; Wellpoint; RWJBarnabas Health and Newark Beth Israel Medical Center; Camacho Floats; Peapack Private Wealth Management; the City of Newark; Newark Deputy Mayor Jacqueline Mercado-Quiles; the Newark City Council; JPMorgan Chase; New Jersey Children’s Foundation; NJM Insurance Group; Nirvana Healthcare; Devils Youth Foundation; Technology Engineers and Architects (TEA); Estech Systems Inc.; and the CPR Foundation.

For more information about UCC programs or to support future events, visit uccnewark.org

Send local news tips and correction requests to eric.kiefer@patch.com. Learn more about advertising on Patch here.