Mike Ford doesn’t like to beg.
Nevertheless, the Iola Police Department’s public resource officer is asking for public support with IPD’s annual Project Care effort.
Through Project Care, the Police Department assists 40 area youngsters enrolled in the Adopt-A-Child program, buying toys and other essentials, such as shoes, shirts or coats, for Christmas.
That number sounds impressive, but is lower than in years past. (The Police Department was able to assist 65 such children in 2016.)
Each year’s effort is based on the monies collected the previous Christmas, Ford explained.
The Department brought in $2,700 in 2015, enough to help those 65 children.
However, last year’s donations brought in only $2,025.
And even with fewer children, the dollars will be stretched thin.
“We try to average $50 or $60 for each child,” Ford said. “With $2,000, that averages to only 33 kids.”
He’s hopeful the department can get funds immediately to complete this year’s project, and then stash the leftover funds for 2018.
“We may need to get creative with fundraisers,” Ford said, noting no tax dollars go to support Project Care. “We hope people are feeling better about the economy and are able to give a little more this year.”
In addition, the Police Department has set up a toy box in the IPD lobby for donors wishing to give toys instead of cash. The toys can be dropped off there.
To learn more, call 365-4960.
PHOTO: Iola police officers, from left, Tom Roush, Chief Jared Warner, Mike Ford, Mike Aronson and Bob Droessler stand next to a Project Care toy box set up in the IPD lobby. The campaign to secure toys for area youths in need is in search of a boost this year. REGISTER/RICHARD LUKEN
