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Back The Blue backers give gifts to cops
Supporters give gifts to cops to show they
By Joe Gorman
YOUNGSTOWN
When Holly Welch asked Suzie’s Dogs & Drafts downtown to make a donation to the Back The Blue effort to support the city police department, she was spearheading with Alyssa Goist, she expected maybe a $20 donation.
Instead, she got lunch for all officers on duty, catered to the department’s roll-call room Monday.
Officers received more than just lunch. Every officer received a bag filled with snacks, gift cards and cards from preschool children around the area thanking them for the work they do.
Welch, whose husband, Jim, is a member of the force, said she was stunned by the amount of support generated for the department.
Holly Welch said she estimated the amount of donated goods at nearly $6,000, including $2,500 in gift cards.
There was a special luncheon and prayer in the roll-call room for officers where they received their gift bags. Chief Robin Lees said he and the rest of the department appreciate the goodwill.
“I think it’s great that the community shows support like this,” Lees said.
Lees said officers know that sometimes their job can be a lonely one, especially in recent weeks after a wave of police shootings and officers also being shot across the country.
“A lot of days you’re not very popular, given the responsibilities that you have,” Lees said.
Holly Welch and Goist, whose boyfriend also is a city police officer, got the idea for the Back The Blue campaign from the Christian women’s
organization Beautifully Designed that promoted the nationwide effort to help show support for police officers. Joining Suzie’s Dogs & Drafts in providing food for lunch was Ghossain’s Gourmet Mediterranean Foods.
“They [businesses] were happy they had ways to give back,” Goist said.
With help from Kelly Koenig, Lees’ secretary, Holly Welch and Goist collected donations over the weekend to give to the officers.
Especially poignant were the cards, which had messages thanking the officers for the work they do in ways that only children can think of.
“They’re heartfelt, and they’re funny,” Holly Welch said.