A Forever Gift for Whitley K-9 Officers and Therapy Dogs - No Strings Attached! Already dog lovers themselves, a local Whitley County couple was drawn to the important role of K-9 officers when our community tragically lost K-9 officer Cas, in an accident that occurred in pursuit of a suspect in June of 2019. When the couple came to the Community Foundation to discuss their charitable goals, they knew exactly where they wanted to direct their support.
Two charitable permanent endowments have been created to help strengthen, and support the vital resources necessary for K-9 officers to serve our community. Training, supplies, and veterinary services are some of the needs these new endowments will help underwrite. The first endowment is earmarked as the Whitley County K-9 Fund; the second, started in 2022, will be the Indiana Natural (National) Resources District 2 K-9 Fund for the program which serves Northeast Indiana. Journey is the probation department’s therapy dog and will also spend time at Work Release with the residents under the guidance of Amy Motter and Julie Jensen-Kelley. Her work will include being at the Probation Department each day and being available during their appointments with officers. She will be attending court hearings, including juvenile hearings and provide support to those who are dealing with trauma and are going through difficult times. She will also be available to assist the Prosecutor’s Office when they have a victim that needs to be interviewed or when they have to testify. Journey is also being trained to sit through Court with the victims. She will attend MRT classes and other programs at work release. The
Whitley Country residents did it again! Hundreds of items were donated by the public in an effort to brighten the holidays for local senior citizens. Foundation staff loaded gift bags on to Santa’s sleigh (disguised as a Whitley Transit Bus).
THREADS OF KINDNESS
Like the rest of the world, the Covid pandemic continued to linger in Whitley County in 2021. Perhaps among the hardest hit were local seniors. Many, already struggling with health needs and financial limitations felt an increased toll from the isolation that was mandated as a result of the health crisis. Many found themselves battling loneliness as they became tied to their homes, fearful to go out in public. With the holidays looming, Carol Flowers, the Community Foundation’s Scholarship and Communications Coordinator, decided to make a difference. To brighten the holidays for Whitley County’s elderly population, she came up with the idea of coordinating Senior Santa Sacks. The call for help went out and Whitley County responded. Donations of books, lotion, socks, puzzles, tissues, lip balm, and candy came in faster than you can say Kris Kringle. The holiday spirit was alive and well as donations came in from across Whitley County, from young and old, individuals and groups, from families, Easterseals/ Passages, homeschoolers, even the 4-H Goat Club! Before we knew it, our Board room was brimming! Flowers worked with Leslie Blakley, Director of The Woodlands Senior Center to coordinate
distribution at the organization’s in-house holiday meal as well as to those who needed to have their annual Christmas meal delivered. The response was phenomenal. For many seniors in our community, this was the only Christmas they received this year. We were delighted when our board room overflowed with items for the gift bags. The response to the request was so overwhelming the Foundation was able to provide 120 Senior Santa Sacks to the Woodlands Senior Center another 50 gift sacks were given to the Lunch and Camaraderie senior lunch program for One Community in South Whitley. After the sacks were distributed the Foundation received phone calls and notes of thanks from seniors who were grateful for the gifts. Our hearts were touched by the depth of their gratitude. This is proof there is a more than a thread of common good in Whitley County. When a community need arises, instead of unraveling, we come together and create solutions. The generous donations and giving spirit made for a brighter Christmas for many seniors in Whitley County. We can’t thank everyone enough for all they did to make our Senior Santa Sacks an overwhelmingly successful community project.
Journey (as in “Don’t Stop Believing”) became an important staff member for Whitley County Corrections in 2021.
fact that this dog will be available to support children who have experienced trauma was especially important to the fund’s creators. Their generosity extended beyond the Community Foundation as they helped the staff at Whitley County Corrections with a portion of the funding necessary to purchase the black golden doodle. Dogs who enter the K-9 program to assist conservation officers are trained for different areas of expertise including man-tracking, wildlife detection, evidence recovery and search and rescue operations. Both funds are open to receive gifts from the public which are tax deductible. For additional information, contact the Community Foundation at 260-244-5224.
12 2021 Annual Report
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