Gospel Community Church, Oakwood Baptist Church, WMBW/Moody Radio and Pierce & Huisman Law Firm are teaming together for the Eighth Annual “Project Thank You” to solicit donations to show support from the people of the greater Chattanooga area for the officers of the Chattanooga Police Department.
Chattanooga Police officers are often so busy serving and protecting that they don’t get a chance to stop for meals during their shifts. Many times they have to make do with the items they can grab at a convenience store or at a fast-food drive-through. The goal is to provide a show of appreciation through providing practical supplies and items that are useful to each officer.
In addition to showing appreciation to the police force, the sponsors also want to equip them with items that they can have at the ready going forward, as the need arises. Organizers said they are thankful for the efforts of the city’s police officers and want to show gratitude and respect for their commitment.
Through Project Thank You, organizers will distribute to each police officer in the Chattanooga Police Department a gift bag containing items which the officers have said would be helpful to them on a daily basis, but which are not provided to them by the CPD. These include prepackaged single-serve snacks, bottled water and sports drinks, hand sanitizer, sanitizing or baby wipes, chapstick, black ink pens, sunscreen, insect repellent, black or navy hand towels, and drive-thru restaurant gift cards (in $5 or $10 denominations).
Items may be purchased from the project’s Amazon registry at bit.ly/PHPTY and will be shipped directly to the project sponsors.
In addition, organizers are soliciting those who would like to write cards and letters of appreciation to place in the bags (with organizers providing the names of officers to those who wish to participate). Organizers will also accept cash donations to purchase needed items for the officers. Donations may be made online at http://bit.ly/3MOzs41, and donations are tax-deductible. Checks may be made payable to Gospel Community Church, with “Project Thank You” in the “for” line, and mailed to Gospel Community Church, 1640 Joiner Road, Chattanooga, TN 37421.
There will be a community drop-off day for donations on Thursday, June 1, at Oakwood Baptist Church, 4501 Bonny Oaks Dr., from 9 a.m.-4 p.m. Donations may also be dropped off at Pierce & Huisman, 4513 Hixson Pike, Suite 109 (please call beforehand at 648-4303).
After using the cash to purchase items for the gift bags, organizers will assemble the bags filled with the donated items and will deliver them directly to the police officers of the Chattanooga Police Department in June. There are approximately 475 sworn officers involved.
For more information about Project Thank You, please call Christine Sarah Hester at 648-4303 or e-mail Debbie Pierce at dpierce@piercehuismanlaw.com.