Hands Up to Coopertown

Coopertown Police Department “Hands Up to Coopertown” Program

Gives a Helping Hand to Families in Need

 

As we drove onto the property, a broken doll by the driveway heralds our arrival and forebodes of the broken lives we were to face; but a courageous grandmother inside the small trailer where we arrived is mending the hearts and lives of her family’s youngest members.

 

On Wednesday, November 22, the day before Thanksgiving, Police Chief David Barrera, Sgt. Rodney Porter and Detective Bill Rush knocked on the door of a family struggling to meet basic needs and opened the hearts of the community of Coopertown to help.  “Here is a family that our Resource Officer, in cooperation with Coopertown Elementary School, has identified as struggling to meet basic, daily needs,” said Chief Barrera. “We wanted to make sure they had food for Thanksgiving, but the generosity of the people assured that they would have enough food to carry them through to Christmas.” 

 

”I have been on patrol for a long time and I have seen this same story over and over.  Drugs take over someone’s life, and the children suffer.  Unless someone in the family steps up to rescue the kids, they end up in state custody.  In many cases, just like in this one, it is the grandparents,”

said the Chief.  “Even with the referral, I guess it is the policeman in me, but I wanted to find out the facts for myself. After our on-site interview, I determined that she (the grandmother) was very honest and forthcoming about her family’s situation, and that she was doing the very best that she could. With six kids all under age nine in a small, three bedroom trailer, it was as neat as a pin.  There wasn’t trash lying around, the kids were clean and their clothes were clean.”

 

Mrs. Dennington, the grandmother, stated, “My daughter got messed up with drugs and I tried everything I could to help her.  I even had the state (of Georgia) put her in Boot Camp.”  As she laid her hand on the worn Bible on the table, she said, “I gave my life to God a year ago, and he helped me adopt these two children. I love them so much.”

 

“I prayed to God that he would help us work out things, and he has sent us these three angels,” Mrs. Dennington said with tears in her eyes as she hugged each of the officers.  

 

“I had family in Coopertown and I knew I had to get the kids out of that environment.  I called my cousin and he had this trailer that he said we could move into, so in July I moved up here with my two grandchildren.  My daughter brought her four kids up here later.  She has gotten a job and an apartment in Springfield, but has to work on it before she and the kids can move in.  I keep the kids now while she works, but if I can find daycare for my three year old, then her foreman said that I could get a job there, too, and that would help,” she said.

 

“Even with the food, there are still some needs that we identified for the family,” the Chief continued. “As police officers, we are trained to look for things that others might not be aware of, such as smoke detectors.  We observed that there were not enough smoke detectors and they were not up to codes, so we contacted the Pleasant View Fire Department which has a program to supply smoke detectors to families in need, free of charge, and they are taking care of that safety issue.  With the support of the Mayor, the Police Department’s Officers, the staff at City Hall, and the Community, we can give some real help to this family, and to others in need.”

 

The needs identified for this family include clothes for the children, two twin beds (they are sleeping on mattresses recovered and cleaned by the grandmother), bedding, towels, a chest of drawers for their clothing, a sofa for the Living Room, a bed for the grandmother (she is sleeping on the floor so the kids can have the mattresses) and toys for the children, including dolls for the girls age six and seven.

 

This is the beginning of our “Hands Up to Coopertown” Program, sponsored by the Coopertown Police Department, announced Chief Barrera.  We want to be able to give a “Hand Up”, not a “Hand Out” to people who are truly struggling.  People who contribute to this program will know that the police officers, in conjunction with other public programs, will check out each situation.  Because we are out on patrol in the community, we can also follow up on these families, help monitor their on-going needs and bring resources to them to improve their lives.

 

Selfishly, it also helps in crime prevention.  If we can identify “At Risk” kids, offer early intervention, and provide positive role models for these kids, it will cut down on vandalism and other forms of juvenile crime, and hopefully, keep this kids on the right track to becoming positive, productive citizens of Coopertown.

 

We want to expand the program so that at Christmas, we can provide food baskets, clothing and toys to kids and families in need in our community.  We have already identified another family that is struggling.  With the generous donations of citizens and businesses at Thanksgiving, we now have the seed money to continue the program through the holiday season.  And, those that contribute, can rest assured that the money stays right here in Coopertown, with neighbors helping neighbors.

 

“Yes, folks, right here in River City” to quote the old song from the “Music Man”, there are families right here in Coopertown that need help from their neighbors.  And the officers of the Coopertown Police Department are stepping up and leading the way to help.

 

To quote Detective Rush, “That just made my Thanksgiving.  It is so gratifying to be able to give back to someone who really needs the help, and is so appreciative.  When I go stuff myself on turkey and dressing tomorrow, I will know that at least six kids won’t spend that special day hungry.  And, isn’t that the reason we in America are able to say “Thanks” on Thanksgiving?”

 

To help with the “Hands Up” program, contact the Coopertown Police Department at 615-382-4470 or Email: coopertown@charterinternet.com

 

Contributors to this program include:

  • The Officers of the Coopertown Police Department
  • Gregory’s Garage
  • Ray Elrod’s Phillips 66 Service Station and Market
  • Dickie Thompson
  • City Hall Employees