When Starfish volunteer Tommy Botts found out Columbus Division of Police officers were donating used sporting equipment to kids they encountered on their patrol routes, he approached his local rec center and asked if he could have their used soccer balls. He then took all the old balls, inflated them to check for leaks, and then took THREE HUNDRED OF THEM to Lt Scott Bartholow, who leads the 20 CPD Community Liaison Officers. Lt Bartholow said soccer balls are always needed and that he'll share with other areas of CPD in order to distribute to as many kids as possible.
This is the essence of Starfish: identifying a way we can help, then doing what we can to make a difference. As we enter December, we're going to be working with those same Community Liaison Officers, as well as patrol officers, to identify kids and families in need. Please consider a donation to adopt a family/child. The officers will take them shopping, creating happy memories for everyone and helping people to have a Christmas who might not otherwise have one.
(P.S.: Another hallmark of Starfish is shown here: getting our own kids involved in the process!)
