The La Grange Police Department is getting a pair of new e-bikes, and one of them is compliments of American Legion Post 1941.
The bike was presented to department officials on August 21, along with donations to 12 other charitable organizations during Post 1941’s annual Charitable Giving Night.
“This is a great way to get out into the community and engage with people,” Police Chief Timothy Griffin said accepting the bike. “It’s getting out of the squad car, getting on to the bike and into the downtown or in the parks or where people are. The e-bike gives us a chance to make it around town, engage people, talk to people, and hear their concerns they may have in the community…what we want is that human relationship in policing.”
Along with the e-bike donated to the Police, Post 1941 donated $62,100 to local charities.
Post Commander Bill Kiddon talked about trends in veteran’s organizations, noting that he considered the amount raised this year a success, given the dwindling number of American Legion and VFW posts.
“Every August we have our Charitable Giving evening where we give back to our community and our veteran’s organizations and some of our local community organizations,” he said.
Kiddon joked that some people didn’t even realize the American Legion was still around, and when the charitable organizations got word that it was giving money away, their reactions were probably, “It’s got to be a scam.”
Chairman of the Charitable Giving Committee Charlie Anderson noted that the meeting had been taking place for six years and that while the Posts’ original mission was providing relief to veterans “with the formation of the Charitable Giving Committee, we quickly decided that this American Legion was part of a community.”
One of those community organizations being benefited is BEDS Plus, the La Grange-based group fighting homelessness in Southwest Suburban Cook County.
“I can’t say how important it is for us to have the community behind us, and to serve people who are struggling with housing insecurity in the Southwest Suburbs of Cook County,” Erin Molek, community engagement coordinator, said. “Right now we have five veterans staying at our building, which houses 20 … we served over 2,500 individuals, we house 79 % of our clients and right now we have served 39 veterans.”
La Grange-based Aging Care was also awarded a donation.
“We service older adults, their families and caregivers in an effort to empower them to age with dignity,” Susan Brown, Aging Care development associate, said accepting the award. “We provide resources, information…if you have a question, we either have the answer or we will find it for you.”
Other familiar organizations receiving checks were Post 41’s Auxiliary, the Greater Chicago Food Depository, Honor Flight Chicago, Legacy Guild, the Salvation Army, the Red Cross, the Midwest Shelter for Homeless Vets, and the USO.
Also receiving donations were Hines Hospital, Paralyzed Veterans of America, BraveHearts Therapeutic Riding and Education Center, and the DiveHeart Foundation.
“Tonight is great,” La Grange Village President Mark Kuchler said. “The American Legion does so much for the community. Their main mission is obviously providing services for the vets and the active service, which is fantastic. And then to engage with the community and purchase this bike for the Police is wonderful.”
Deputy Chief Ken Uher echoed Chief Griffin’s point of engagement with citizens, agreeing with the suggestion that getting off the bike was somewhat old-fashioned, like being a cop walking the beat.
“It would be along those lines,” he said. “It’s getting outside of the vehicle, making it easier to engage with the public and to get to someplace you normally couldn’t. Especially with this bike and the size of the wheels, you can go in grass, sand, dirt, and mud.”
Hank Beckman is a freelance reporter for Pioneer Press.