Wednesday, January 27, 2016

Water, water everywhere -- for a good cause



Chief Steven R. Casstevens (left)  and Officer Richard Hyland are shown with some of the water collected for first responders in Flint, Michigan. (Photo courtesy of the Buffalo Grove Police Department)

 The Buffalo Grove Police Department has a problem.

Sort of.

When it announced that it was going to collect water for first responder in Flint, Michigan, which has been hit with a water crisis because of lead in its water system, BG cops thought they’d get donations, load ‘em in a trailer the department owns and head off to Flint.

That was the idea.

But as of 11:30 a.m. on Wednesday, the department had, according to Deputy Chief Roy Bethge, collected 11,000 cases of water.

Yes, 11,000.

They came to the quick realization that the weight of the water and the potential for more donations was going to rule out the use of the trailer.

So while the department looks at alternatives to taking the water to Flint, Bethge says donations are still coming in.  Donations can be dropped off at the Police Department, 46 Raupp, anytime.  Bethge says all shift commanders and personnel are aware of the program and will be able to accept donations.  The Police Department is accepting  donations until 6 p.m. on Friday, Jan. 29.

The program started out as a local initiative, but before long other agencies in the Chicago area began collecting water and donated to the Buffalo Grove initiative.

Bethge says the department has received water from not only Buffalo Grove residents, but also the Grayslake Fire Department, Schiller Park Fire Department, the Arlington Heights Fire Department, the Union (Illinois) Fire Department, the Lake Zurich Fire Department, and the North Riverside Fire Department.   Bethge says the Carpentersville Fire Department is also having a drive and will bring its collection to Buffalo Grove.

                Bethge said Buffalo Grove did not plan to coordinate the area’s collection, but “we’re glad to do it.”

                Probably not as glad as the first responders in Flint will be to get the water.

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