Kentwood PD taking donations for NC officers impacted by Helene

KENTWOOD, Mich. (WOOD) — As areas continue to recover from the devastation caused by Hurricane Helene, people in Kentwood came together Thursday night to pack supplies for police officers in Asheville, North Carolina.

Around 250 supply bags were put together by kids, Kentwood police and other volunteers at the Woodfield Community Center. Each of the bags were filled with snacks, baby wipes and other emergency supplies.

Organizers say the event not only helped connect police officers to their own community but also connects them to officers serving in North Carolina.

“Asheville, North Carolina’s police department is very short right now, so the officers are away from their families and just struggling mentally, physically, and we just wanted to put together a little care package for them,” said Stephanie Morningstar, Kentwood Deputy Police Chief.

“What we’re really doing is we’re building a stronger community, people working together for a common good, and that is to support our brothers and sisters in the police department, helping them serve their communities. It’s very important for us to show our support and our love, to let them know that even though we’re in Michigan, we’re thinking about them and we want to bless them,” said business owner Ken Kuiper.

If you’d like to donate any emergency supplies or snacks, the Kentwood Police Department will be taking donations until Sunday. A plane carrying the supplies will head to North Carolina later that day.

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