EVANSVILLE, Ind. (WFIE) – Tri-state nonprofit 4 Good Community is partnering with Evansville Police to ensure officers have everything they need to care for people in need.
The charity operates the DOT store in Evansville, giving officers 24/7 access so they can pick up whatever the community needs for free.
Despite all that the Evansville Police Department does for the area, sometimes they could use a little help; especially in emergency situations when people need things. That’s why a partnership like this is so valuable.
The Evansville DOTs store is not only a place dedicated to providing essentials to those in need, but also a new resource for the Evansville Police Department.
At a ribbon-cutting ceremony, EPD and 4 Good Community officials announced that officers now have 24/7 access to the store, meaning they can obtain essential items for those who need them in an emergency.
“This is a great opportunity because as police officers we can provide them with resources in the form of a place they can go or a phone number they can call. But actually providing them with those resources is going to be invaluable,” said EPD Officer Taylor Merriss.
The DOTs store offers groceries, clothing, household items and more.
EPD officials say it’s not uncommon for them to find people they can help with such things, but it often happens after an emergency late at night when other businesses are unavailable.
Representatives of nonprofit organizations said they wanted to make it easier for police to do more.
“We just can’t imagine what all of these first responders are seeing and going through, and many of them want to do more,” said Kyle Duckworth, vice president of 4 Good Community. “So we’re giving them the opportunity to help people right where they are and get right on the ground.”
Before this partnership, officials said they sometimes paid for things for other people with their own money.
They say they rely on community partnerships like this and that community support means a lot to them.
“They want us to just be good to our community and provide for them when we see a need,” Merriss said. “That can only help build relationships and provide the foundation that the Evansville Police Department stands on.”
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