A 10-year veteran officer with the Kentwood Police Department started his career in Asheville, North Carolina, hard hit by Hurricane Helene last week.
“He was talking to a lot of his friends down there and just heard how bad conditions were and how just mentally and physically exhausted the officers were.”
Kentwood Deputy Police Chief Stephanie Morningstar says the officer collected donations from others in the department and local businesses, then a team of volunteers spent Thursday evening packing 250 care packages for fellow officers.
“Just the community as a whole there - your heart breaks for them but then you also know what the officers are dealing with down there, what they’re seeing and what they’re hearing and knowing their families are alone while their officer is out serving the community.”
The Kentwood Police Department will take donations of hygiene and snack items from the public until Sunday when a local pilot has volunteered to take the supplies to North Carolina.
