Present Pillars hosted its 4th Annual ‘Shop with a Pillar’ holiday shopping experience bringing joy, mentorship, and meaningful support to 372 local youth over the course of five impactful days at Walmart in Benton Harbor.
Shop with a Pillar pairs volunteer mentors—known as “Pillars”—with local youth for a special holiday shopping trip. Through one-on-one mentorship, encouragement, and guidance, the event not only helps families meet holiday needs but also fosters lasting relationships and positive role models during a critical time of year.
This year’s event was made possible by the dedication of 53 volunteers who stepped up to serve, mentor, and uplift youth throughout the week. Together, they helped create an atmosphere of care, dignity, and celebration—demonstrating the power of community collaboration in action.
“Every young person in our community deserves moments that make them feel supported, valued, and inspired.” said James Gunter, Co-Founder & Executive Director of Present Pillars Foundation. Shop with a Pillar is our way of showing that the adults around them—their Pillars—are here to lift them up and walk beside them. These experiences shape confidence, spark hope, and remind our youth that they matter.”
“Indiana Michigan Power is honored to have helped to make this event possible,” Mona Livingston, Customer Services Manager at Indiana Michigan Power, said. “Our partnership with Present Pillars reflects our commitment to uplifting young people and strengthening families in Southwest Michigan.”
Through the generous support of Indiana Michigan Power, Communities in Schools, Honor Credit Union, The Home Depot and Horizon Bank, Shop with a Pillar provides relief to families facing financial hardship, strengthens mentorship relationships, and fosters a positive holiday atmosphere for youth who may otherwise go without. Many local schools and youth organizations contribute by identifying students who will benefit most from the program.
