L to R: Officer Dylan Brooks, Kristen Bowling (LLCU ), Asst. Chief Jake Bowling (Vandalia PD), and Megan Westendorf (LLCU), Kim Bretz (LLCU), Chief Shane Brandel (Decatur PD), Michelle Harvey (LLCU), Maryann Phillips (LLCU), Melanie Walker (LLCU), and Springfield PD, Elizabeth Wilson (LLCU), Chief Deputy Travis Buhnerkempe, Sheriff Paul Kuhns, Chief Jason McFarland, Lisa Wilson (LLCU) and Justin Roley (LLCU), Sgt. Cory McNicol (NPD), Dillon Crosier (LLCU), Officer Brad Park (Normal PD), and Officer Chad Bock (Normal PD), Alex Haney (LLCU), Heidi Schlabach (LLCU) and Mattoon PD, Makalia Atkins-Wiliams (LLCU), Centralia Police Chief, and Ruby Berry (LLCU). Sgt. Rachael Ehrhardt (Nokomis PD), Brenda Hill (Nokomis Savings), and Nokomis Police Chief Talon Burton, Blake Reynolds (Colchester State Bank), Randy Coplan (Colchester PD) and Morgan Snow (City Office Staff), Lena Schmitz (LLCU), Officer Adam Ladage (Pana PD), Brittany Eakle (LLCU), and Lucy Slightom (LLCU).
Decatur, Illinois, May 22nd, 2023 – Land of Lincoln Credit Union (LLCU) has donated $10,000 in LLCU VISA® Gift Cards to several central Illinois Law Enforcement Agencies. The gift cards will be used, at the discretion of the patrolling officers, to spread good will throughout the community, offering them to citizens when they see a need. This was done in effort to show support of local police officers during National Police Week (May 14th – 20th).
LLCU started this providing this donation several years ago in effort to assist local law enforcement with their community outreach efforts. Local officials offered positive feedback about the good deeds that they were able to do with the gift cards throughout the communities.
“Law Enforcement officials have a front-row seat to the many needs of individuals and families in our communities,” stated LLCU President & CEO, Robert Ares. “They encounter the homeless veteran, the battered wife with nowhere to turn, the hungry child on the street, the stranded motorist, and more. So often, these dedicated Men and Women in BLUE, reach into their OWN pockets to help those in need. We wanted to help with that.”
The $10,000 donated to the agencies were distributed as individual $25 VISA® Gift Cards that officers will have on hand while patrolling, to offer when they see a need. “We appreciate this donation from LLCU. It is a great way to help assist the community that we serve,” stated Vandalia Assistant Chief Jake Bowling.
Police Departments in the following cities (all within LLCU service area) were recipients of the donation: Bloomington, Centralia, Colchester, Decatur, Effingham, Mattoon, Nokomis, Normal, Pana, Springfield, & Vandalia.