Coastal FMC Donates to Back the Blue Fundraiser

Coastal FMC has made a donation in the amount of $5,000 to the Willow Springs Police Department to kick off a Back the Blue fundraising event scheduled to take place at Booster Field on September 19 from 12:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m.
“We heard about it at the Chamber of Commerce meeting and wanted to kick it off,” said Erik Montgomery of Coastal FMC. 
Police Chief Bryan Hogan was on hand to personally accept the check on September 4. He said the funds, as well as all the funds raised at the Back the Blue event will be used to provide combination body and in-car camera systems for the officers. The current system available to the police officers does not function, Chief Hogan said, and they are expensive to replace at about $5,000 each. 
“In today’s society, [cameras] are a necessity,” he said. 
The Back the Blue fundraiser is being organized by Krista Thomas, wife of WSPD’s newest officer, John Thomas. 
Mrs. Thomas said she wanted to organize a fundraiser for the department, no matter how much or little they would raise. Morale was down in the department, she said. With the blessing of the City Administrator and Police Chief, she started contacting food trucks and local vendors, offering them the opportunity to set up their booths and sell their goods for only a donation to the WSPD. 
She pushed the information out on Facebook, and was contacted by over 100 people. 
“My phone was going off for about 3 days,” she said. 
The Back the Blue event will feature at least three food trucks, t-shirt sales, custom items, fishing lures, beauty products, baked goods and several items donated for a silent auction. 
All the vendors will set up for the cost of a donation of their choice to the police, and many are choosing to donate a portion of their sales that day to the police as well. 
It’s not too late for vendors to sign up, Thomas said. 
“Just show up,” she said. 
One hundred percent of the vendor fees and silent auction proceeds raised will go to benefit the Willow Springs Police Department.

Howell County News

110 W. Main St.,
Willow Springs, MO 65793
417-252-2123

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