NILES Sam's Club gives $1,500 to police department

The grant was for $500 more than the department requested.
By SHERRI L. SHAULIS
VINDICATOR TRUMBULL STAFF
NILES -- The city's police department is benefiting from a nationwide grant program offered by Sam's Club.
The Niles location of Sam's Club presented city and police officials with a $1,500 check Tuesday to be used to buy equipment for the department.
Police Chief Bruce Simeone said the money will be used to buy investigative tools, as well as educational items for use by the officers in the schools.
"We have our Safety Pup program, where the guys go to the schools and take things like coloring books and pencils," he said. "We can use this to purchase those supplies."
Capt. Chuck Wilson, who wrote the grant request, said Sam's Club actually awarded more than anticipated.
"They gave us $500 more than we asked for," he said. "We can't thank them enough."
Cheryl Glowicki, Sam's Club Community Involvement Coordinator, said the money marks $9,000 in bonus grants awarded by the local store this year, which is on top of $7,500 in matching grants also awarded.
"The matching grants are what we award to groups who come and have bake sales at our store, and we match what they earn," she said. The bonus grants, she said, are awarded to various safety and civic organizations based on need.
Nationwide program
The grant program is part of the Good Works program, operated by Wal-Mart Stores Inc., the parent company of Sam's Club. Last year, the company awarded more than $150 million nationwide to support communities and nonprofit organizations.
Glowicki, who presented the check along with merchandise manager Ed Berry, said other local grants awarded included those for Homes for Kids, the Warren Family Mission, the Niles Fire Department and the Trumbull County Soil and Water Conservation District.
Mayor Ralph A. Infante said the award and the Good Works program are just another way to show the importance of a community and its leaders working together.
"It's really great to see businesses participating in the community like this," he said.
For more information on the Wal-Mart Good Works program, check the Web site at www.walmartfoundation.org.
slshaulis@vindy.com