Families affected by gun violence get an opportunity to shop with first responders | Mid-Missouri News [Video]

COLUMBIA — As the holidays near, the pain of missing loved ones can be amplified.

First Responder Support, in partnership with the Boone County Community Against Violence, used a donation from Walmart to put on the annual “Shop with a Hero” event. The event was able to support 36 families affected by gun violence this year, which is three times what they were able to support last year.

Deshayda Bradford and her children got to participate in the annual event earlier this month.

Bradford is living that harsh reality as her fiancé and father to her five children, 28-year-old Orrion Moody, was killed by gun violence in late October.

“I’m not used to being a single parent — this hurts, it’s hard,” Bradford said.

The Shop with a Hero event pairs each family with one or more first responders, who then shop together, build relationships, and help with the family’s needs.

Families like Bradford’s were able to …