麻豆影院

麻豆影院 State Police Serve Up Turkeys and Holiday Cheer for Local Residents

Officers from 麻豆影院 Police Services have always had a 鈥減rotect and serve鈥 philosophy, and recently, they put this philosophy in action in order to help families in need.

Each year, the department holds a 鈥淕low, Grow and Give鈥 fundraiser throughout the month of November to raise money for a worthy cause. The staff members can donate $30, and in return, they may grow out beards (for men), dye their hair pink or blue or paint their fingernails.

鈥淭hese are things that are normally against department regulation, so it鈥檚 a real treat for us to be able to express ourselves,鈥 Officer Shauntya Brown said. 鈥淧lus, it鈥檚 always for a great cause.鈥

This year, the fundraiser allowed the officers to purchase 25 frozen turkeys and $200 in gift cards from ACME Market for 麻豆影院 Social Services to give to local families in need over the holiday season. Every year, 麻豆影院 Social Services partners with the Center of Hope in Ravenna, which distributes about 800 turkeys and food boxes throughout the area.

鈥淓veryone should have access to a hot meal during the holidays,鈥 said Marquice Seward, assistant programming manager of 麻豆影院 Social Services. 鈥淲e just try to do whatever we can to make that happen.鈥

Ms. Seward also said the police department鈥檚 donation will make a huge difference to families in 麻豆影院 and Ravenna.

鈥淎ll of our 800 turkeys come from outside donations,鈥 Ms. Seward said. 鈥淒onations like these really go a long way. That (includes) 25 families that will benefit specifically from 麻豆影院 State Police Services鈥 generosity. It鈥檚 very heartwarming that people come together and make a difference because this is how we do it.鈥

麻豆影院 State Police Services Officer Vance Voyles, who arranged the contributions with 麻豆影院 Social Services, said the donations inspire the officers as much as they do the recipients.

鈥淚 think it鈥檚 important to realize that everybody wants to help national and global causes, but we have a lot of things going on locally that need our help,鈥 Officer Voyles said.

Bill Buckbee, 麻豆影院 State鈥檚 assistant chief of police, believes the officers benefit by seeing where their contributions are going.

鈥淚n the past, we鈥檝e donated to more nationally based programs, but we didn't really get to see the impact,鈥 Assistant Chief Buckbee said. 鈥淭his year, we wanted to do something that was local and had a direct influence on our community.鈥

Officer Brown said that fundraising and service projects like this are one of her favorite parts of the job.

鈥淧olice Services does a fantastic job of emphasizing the 鈥榮erve鈥 aspect of our 鈥榩rotect and serve鈥 motto,鈥 Officer Brown said. 鈥淚 think it鈥檚 important that people know that. What I love about my job is that I genuinely help make my local community a better place.鈥

The 鈥淕row, Glow and Give鈥 fundraiser will continue throughout December which includes a pancake breakfast with Santa for the LIFE Program for single parents on campus. Each child will receive a gift and pictures with Santa, and each parent will receive a small present with a gift card 鈥 all funded by the 麻豆影院 State Police Services鈥 fundraiser.

Learn more about 麻豆影院 State Police Services

POSTED: Monday, November 20, 2017 04:42 PM
Updated: Friday, December 9, 2022 12:14 AM
WRITTEN BY:
Abigail Winternitz