Community Corner
O’Fallon Police Spearhead Effort to Collect Donations for Joplin Tornado Victims
O'Fallon police officers, the St. Charles Ambulance District and CERT volunteers joined forces last weekend to collect donation for emergency workers and families.
The O’Fallon Police Officers Association spearheaded two efforts last weekend to help the victims of the Joplin, MO tornado. A fundraiser at the O’Fallon Bowl was already scheduled for Saturday when he and other officers hatched another idea.
The group set up collection sites Sunday at area businesses for a one-day blitz to collect much needed items and cash donations for their fellow officers, emergency service providers and their families in the Joplin area, said Officer James Klingler, president of the O'Fallon Police Officers Association.
Members of the St. Charles Ambulance District, volunteers with the O’Fallon CERT (Community Emergency Response Team) and several officers from the Wentzville Police Department joined the police association and spread out to eight O’Fallon area businesses Sunday to collect nonperishable food items, baby items and bottled water.
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Sears Hardware, Dierbergs, Schnucks, Shop 'n Save, Lowes and Gordman’s allowed the groups to set up in front of their stores to collect donations.
“The response was overwhelming,” Klingler said. “Everyone that walked by donated for the cause.”
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In addition to the two pickup trucks and two police cars full of donations, Klingler said they collected "over $5,000 in cash donations that will be used to buy specific items needed for the cleanup and restoration efforts.”
The fundraiser at O’Fallon Bowl did not fare as well. Klingler said, “We prepared to fill the bowling alley with people, but with this being a holiday weekend, the turnout was less than expected.”
The O’Fallon Police Officers Association is a fraternal organization that sponsors charity events for groups such as BackStoppers and the St Charles County Chapter of the Missouri Foster Care and Adoption Association.
“We’ll be sponsoring a picnic for the families in the foster care program this fall,” Klingler said.
He said they may plan other events to raise money or collect items for the Joplin area.
O’Fallon CERT members have helped the O’Fallon police many times in the past. Officer Andrew Stowers coordinates the program, which trains citizen volunteers to assist the community’s professional response teams during disasters.
If anyone would like to help the O’Fallon Police Officers Association in their continued efforts, or would like more information on volunteering, email Klingler at opoa95@yahoo.com.