By Joanne Bailey-Boorsma
What started as a request from a City of Wyoming Department of Public Safety officer to visit the Grand Rapids Home for Veterans led to the department hosting its 12th annual donation drive for the Home.
The members of the department’s Honor Guard, which many residents may have seen in parades or special events such as Veterans Day and Memorial Day, work to reflect on why many of the officers join a police force, choosing to serve their community. The Honor Guard visits various places, working with veterans and other groups.
“One of the officers in the Honor Guard had requested we visit the Veterans Home because his father was there,” said Officer Pam Keen. Once there, the officers saw a need.
“It was a reminder that this was a nursing home and that many of these guys were in need of things such as shampoo or body wash or diabetic socks. Basically items that mean the difference of just surviving to making life comfortable.”
Items sought for donation include $25 gift cards (local fast food restaurants, Meijer, Wal-Mart, Dollar Tree, Gordon Food Marketplace, etc.), candy bars, pens, batteries, stamps, grooming, hygiene items and clothing (new or gently used.)
So after that 2007 visit, the Honor Guard decided to host a donation drive. In the past couple of years, the drive has become a citywide event, however; most of the donations come from city staff, Keen said.
“It is more to raise awareness of the Home,” Keen said. “We saw a need and we are trying to help fill it. We hope others will see it and help too.”
Donations will be collected through the month of November and can be dropped off at the Wyoming Department of Public Safety, 2300 DeHoop Ave. SW.
