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Date: 12/27/2021
SOUTH HADLEY- For the third year, the South Hadley Police Department continued its support for veterans through the Home Base program in collaboration with the Red Sox Foundation and Mass General Hospital. The program provides care and support for veterans who sustained injuries on duty, for those with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and support for their family members.
According to South Hadley Police Chief Jennifer Gunderson, in November, they participated in a “No Shave November” initiative to raise the money. She said, “Our officers are not allowed to have beards, so for No Shave November, if our officers are willing to raise money for an organization, I relax the rules regarding the need to be clean-shaven.”
She reported that nine officers volunteered to join in and were required to raise a minimum of $100 each.“Even officers who didn’t participate in it, solicited money on behalf of their colleagues.” Gunderson said.
Together with other public safety agencies, a total of $220,000 was raised statewide. Of that amount, $4,800 was from the South Hadley Police Department.
Another program that the South Hadley Police Department is involved in is “Sand for Seniors.” The program is designed to provide buckets of sand to seniors to prevent falls on ice and when it is slippery.
Director of the TRIAD program for the Hampshire Sherrif’s Office, David Fenton, explained that the TRIAD program is a partnership of the South Hadley Police Department, South Hadley Fire Districts 1 and 2, the Hampshire County Sheriff’s Office, the Northwest District Attorney’s Office) and SALT (Seniors and Law Enforcement Together Council.)
Fenton shared that Buckets for Seniors started in 2018, and that year they delivered 21,000 pounds of sand to seniors. In 2019 they delivered 29,000 pounds.
He said, “Everyone in the community is entitled to a five-gallon bucket of sand from the DPW. But for seniors with mobility and strength issues, health or transportation issues, it’s difficult for them to get sand. So, we worked with our TRIAD program, the police department, fire department, Council on Aging to come up with the concept not just in South Hadley, but all over the county.”
He also said that “it doesn’t cost us to do this.” Because the sand is free, and restaurants and businesses are providing them the five-gallon buckets that they would typically throw out after use. However, he reported that they ran into a dilemma due to everything shutting down during the pandemic and restaurants were not running at full capacity. Additionally, the group didn’t want to go to people’s homes to collect the old buckets to prevent unnecessary contact with the seniors.
Because of these issues, coming up with more buckets has been difficult again this year. However, he said, “Everyone has really stepped in and done their thing, and it’s still working.”
For seniors interested in obtaining a bucket of sand, contact the South Hadley Council on Aging and they will facilitate the delivery. Buckets can be refilled by request. The South Hadley Council on Aging can be reached at 538-5042.