On 9/11 Anniversary, Sartell Officers Get Comfort Items to Hand Out on Tough Calls

(KNSI) – AmeriCorps Seniors RSVP volunteers presented gifts to the Sartell Police Department on Friday, the 25th anniversary of the September 11th attacks, as a thank-you to the officers who serve as first responders in the community.

Tauna Quimby is the AmeriCorps Seniors program coordinator with the City of St. Cloud spole to KNSI News moments after the ceremony. “We’re presenting them with some items for themselves, and then some items that they can use to give to kids and adults when they are on a difficult call, to give them a friendship bracelet or a little teddy bear or something that will make their day and make a difficult day easier.”

Jake Judd/KNSI News

Quimby says her team sat down earlier this year and talked through what the program could do for local first responders that would have a lasting impact. “It’s easy for people to give a box of cookies and enjoy it, but it’s a lot different for us to do something where we can say, look, this is a gift that we’re going to give you for today and something that you can use to support your work throughout the year.”

RSVP connects people 55 and older with volunteer opportunities. The program is housed by the City of St. Cloud at the Whitney Senior Center and works with 160 community partners. Quimby says its 1,200 volunteers logged 140,000 hours of service last year.

Anyone interested in getting involved can click here.

___