8 minute read
Wayne Dennard
ACWORTH POLICE DEPARTMENT
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Community Strength Stands Out in 2020
BY WAYNE DENNARD
Thanksgiving is one of my favorite holidays, and, pleased to report our agency was in compliance with even in a year as challenging as 2020, we still have the best practices, which have been advocated for at much for which to be thankful. Challenging times the national level, prior to their development within provide us with vast opportunities. the police reform movement. I believe all agencies
This year, we have had the opportunity to test our must continually re-evaluate policies and practices adaptability. Schools, teachers, students and parents to ensure they are providing the best possible service learned they could adapt with little more than a to their citizens, as well as to their officers, and our weekend’s notice to transition to remote learning. While the process was not flawless, it was an incredible feat, and, most important, students continued agency does this regularly. Society’s outlook on policing has also given us the opportunity to increase our communication I know our " to learn. Businesses learned to adapt their work models to fit community’s strength, with community members who have felt marginalized. I have pandemic restrictions, and, in many cases, they became more efficient and our ability to been grateful for the open and honest dialogue, and I am looking and were able to provide better service. While some businesses adapt and overcome, forward to ongoing discussions. I believe the first step in healing is are surviving and thriving through this time, we know there are others will allow us to emerge simple, honest communication. Eleanor Roosavelt said it best, that are struggling desperately. This struggle creates an opportunity for stronger, and even “You have to accept whatever comes, and the only important others to help. Our city, among others nationwide, received CARES Act assistance, and I am grateful to our city leaders for thing is that you meet it with the best you have to give.” Our entire world has been faced with unimaginable challenges this year; no one has been better than before. " steering some relief to our local small businesses. untouched. I know our community’s strength, and While government stimulus has helped, an incredible our ability to adapt and overcome, will allow us to amount of help has come from local churches, emerge stronger, and even better than before. So, in schools, businesses, and individuals who have been this season of thanks, I am so thankful for all of you providing food to those in need throughout the – each and every member of our community. We are pandemic. all in this together.
This year has also been a challenge in terms of policing, and the outlook that society has on police officers. Because of this, our profession has had the opportunity to increase our coordination and Wayne Dennard has served as chief since communication within the community to ensure we 2012 and has lived in this community for more than 40 years. have the best policies and practices in place. I am
Lend a Helping While the holiday season traditionally is difficult for many, this year’s pandemic has caused even greater need. Here’s a list of local nonprofits working to make Hand sure everyone has a great holiday season. Please do what you can to help, whether it’s donating money or time. To learn about other ways to help throughout the year, visit www.justserve.org.
Every year, the Acworth Police Department invites parents in need to come and select holiday gifts for their children at the station’s Christmas Shoppe. The community can assist the Christmas Shoppe by donating new, unwrapped toys and clothes for school-aged children. Donations can be dropped off at the police department anytime before Dec. 18. 770-974-1232, Ext. 1115.
The Center for Family Resources https://thecfr.org
The center has a goal of providing 1,000 boxes of food for local families for Thanksgiving week. Register to be a Smart Stuffer Packing Partner; each box costs $60-$65 and contains traditional holiday foods as well as staples such as cereal, peanut butter and jelly, pasta and beans. Another option is to become a Thanks for Giving 2020 sponsor, which helps underwrite the costs of the holiday campaign as well as providing gift cards. 770-428-2601.
Cobb Christmas Stuff-A-Bus www.cobbchristmas.net/stuff-a-bus
The Stuff-A-Bus program helps brighten the holidays for local children in need by donating new toys, food or monetary contributions to Cobb Christmas, a nonprofit, nondenominational organization that helps low-income families during the holidays. It is run 100% by volunteers, so all donations go directly to help the community. Cobb Christmas provides a minimum of three age-appropriate toys to each child, infants through 15. Families go through a qualification process. Check the website to find a donation location near you.
Santa visits Joann Haydel. Photo courtesy Cobb Senior Services.
Cobb Senior Services www.cobbcounty.org
Brighten the holidays for senior clients who won't receive gifts or visits from family during the season. Senior Santa 2020 will help current clients. Cobb Senior Services is not accepting new clients for the program at this time. Ways to help include: • Adopt a senior. Purchase items from a local senior’s wish list, and drop them off at the senior services office by Nov. 20. • Donate gift cards. Cards for Kroger, Publix, Walmart and Target allow seniors to purchase much-needed items and should be dropped off by Nov. 20. • Make a monetary donation. Donate funds at www.cobbseniors.org.
For more information or to receive a wish list, call Andrea Rapowitz at 770-528-1445.
Family Promise Cobb County www.familypromisecobbcounty.org
Family Promise serves housing insecure families with children, by providing shelter through community faith partnerships. While the family has shelter, the day center staff stays busy working to help the adults find jobs, learn budgeting, connect with benefits and services that will help them. The nonprofit has asked for donations of gas cards and Walmart or Target gift cards to help the families being served.
Goshen Valley Foundation www.goshenvalley.org
The holidays are a difficult time for foster children not living with their families. Goshen Valley Boys Ranch attempts to provide a memorable Christmas experience for foster children with the community’s help. This includes building traditions, talking about the true meaning of Christmas, and fulfilling some of the young people's wants and needs through gift giving, to teach them that they are loved. With 42 kids to purchase gifts for, Goshen relies on the generosity of the community to fulfill these wishes. A list of gifts has been compiled on the Amazon website through a charity wishlist. For details, visit http://goshenwishlist.org, email Executive Director Stacy Cooper at scooper@goshenvalley.org, or call 770-796-4618 for a clickable link to view gifts the boys have requested.
The Hope Box www.TheHopeBox.org
The Hope Box, a nonprofit dedicated to rescuing abandoned babies and toddlers, needs donations via gift cards to Walmart, CVS and Target to cover the costs of car seats and other needs of mothers and infants in crisis. Mail gift cards to 3330 Cobb Parkway, Suite 324/180, Acworth, GA 30101. For more information, call 770-765-6301.
Hope Center www.hopectr.com
The pregnancy diagnosis and support center can use donations of new, unwrapped toys for children up to age 18 for the Christmas toy closet. Donations will be accepted at the HOPE Center, 295 Molly Lane, Suite 120, Woodstock. 770-924-0864.
KSU CARE Center http://care.kennesaw.edu
The Campus Awareness, Resource & Empowerment (CARE) Services office offers support to students who have experienced homelessness, food insecurity and/or the foster care system. Monetary donations to the scholarship fund can make a huge difference in the life of a student. There is a wish list to help students at Christmas. For details, contact CARE at careservices@kennesaw.edu or 470-KSU-5260. MUST Ministries www.mustministries.org
The MUST Ministries Thanksgiving Food Box Program long has been a source of help and hope to those living in poverty. To help your neighbors in need, MUST is collecting donations of canned green beans, corn, cranberry sauce and sweet potatoes. Also requested are boxes or packets of mashed potatoes, macaroni and cheese, cornbread, stuffing and gravy mixes (no glass please). Monetary donations for turkeys and frozen pies are the most helpful. Nonperishable items can be dropped off 8 a.m.-2:30 p.m. through Nov. 13, at the MUST Ministries Donation Center located at 1280 Field Parkway, Marietta, GA 30066. For more information, contact Keo Buford at 678-485-8490.
Operation Christmas Child www.samaritanspurse.org
Representatives will be collecting donations of filled shoeboxes Nov. 16-23, but collection may look a little different this year. Check the website for updates on locations in the area that will be accepting shoeboxes, and for directions on donating or filling a virtual shoebox.
Encompass Ministries and its food pantry offer yearround food and stability, as well as life-skills training assistance, Mondays-Saturdays. Special holiday needs: donations of turkeys, ham and nonperishable food items. A list of the top 10 foods is kept up-to-date on the website. Tax-deductible donations also are accepted online at www.papaspantry.org. For more details, call 770-591-4730.
Simple Needs GA www.simpleneedsga.org
The Spirit of Christmas program helps school- and agency-referred families who were unable to register for other local programs, such as the MUST Toy Shop, Cobb Christmas and Toys for Tots. Volunteer opportunities include buying requested presents, wrapping gifts, making deliveries, sorting and organizing, and more. For information, email brenda@simpleneedsga.org.
Toys for Tots www.toysfortots.org
Toys for Tots is a national program started by the Marine Corps. Through Dec. 14, Toys for Tots will collect new, unwrapped toys to distribute to children in need during the holiday season as a way of spreading joy to the less fortunate. Visit the website for the most updated list of collection sites in Acworth.
