MLPD gets large gift for those in need

The Moses Lake Police Department received a donation during the weekend exceeding $1,000 to put toward helping those in need.

“We got a significant amount of money this year for our Shop With a Cop program, so we’re in good shape with that,” said MLPD Chief Kevin Fuhr. “So, now, this is going to be used to help other people in need with kind of basic, basic items. Food, clothing, shelter, gas – stuff like that.”

The program through the department has no formal name, but has been administered for the last four years, Fuhr said. Funds donated to the department are put on prepaid credit cards used by crew sergeants. When officers find a citizen in need, the cards are available to help people with basic needs or even car repairs if they’re stranded in town while traveling.

“We had a couple that were traveling through,” Fuhr said. “They broke down in Moses Lake. They had a flat tire (and) the tire needed to be replaced and they didn’t have the money for it. So, we took the car down to the Walmart and put new tires on their car.”

Funds can also go to help area shelterless people with necessities, such as boots, jackets and other items when temperatures drop, Fuhr said.

After a prepaid card is used, the crew sergeant completes a transaction record. Each purchase is also tracked through the prepaid card, so how the money is spent is documented and tracked, Fuhr said.

Anyone who would like to contribute to the fund may do so at MLPD headquarters, 411 S. Balsam St., in Moses Lake, Fuhr said. Donations are accepted by the receptionists at the front desk. Donations enable officers to help more people out of difficult situations, Fuhr said.

“If somebody wants to come in, they just need to tell the clerical staff about it, because that’s where donations come from. (Clerical staff) will give it to me and then I put it on the prepaid cards,” Fuhr said.

An ounce of prevention…

Tools are available to the public that can help them protect themselves from being scammed. By vetting charitable causes using the resources below, Columbia Basin residents can ensure their donations support valid causes.

Better Business Bureau

www.bbb.org

Charity Watch

www.charitywatch.org

Washington Secretary of State

https://www.sos.wa.gov/charities