September 22, 2016
Each year, REAL Services honors unsung heroes in Elkhart, Kosciusko, LaPorte, Marshall and St. Joseph counties. These heroes are spouses, sons, daughters, neighbors, organizations and others who give of themselves to care for the elderly and disabled in our communities.
Sarah Thangam, Team leader for Real Services in Marshall County Presented Plymouth F.O.P. Lodge 195 with a certificate distinguishing them as a 2016 Age of Excellence Honoree on Thursday.
Accepting for the F.O.P. was Hursher Hunter and Plymouth Police Officer John Weir with his K9 partner Jax.
Hunter explained the FOP’s partnership with REAL Services. For many years the Shop With a Cop Program has served the underprivileged children in Marshall County at Christmas time. In 2014 the selection committee saw so many of the same names requesting assistance for the third or fourth year that they asked to change the program slightly, from helping 300 to 350 children to taking up to 200 kids and adding senior citizens to the mix.
That first year, in 2014 fifty senior citizens were surprised with gift cards from local grocery stores provided by the F.O.P. In 2015 the number of seniors assisted increased to 75 and the amount on the gift card increased too. Hunter said, “Networking with REAL Services was an easy choice. They know the senior citizens in Marshall County that could really benefit from a little bit of help.”
Hunter used the opportunity to announce the WTCA Shop With A Cop Radio Auction that will take place on the first Friday in December. F.O.P. Members and volunteers are currently seeking items for the radio auction. If you would like to donate please call the radio station (936-4096) and we can pick up the items for you.
Hunter said this year they will have a car and Harley Davidson Motorcycle to auction off and he’s working on an R.V.