A Chicago elementary school raised $600 to help city police officers buy new bulletproof vests.
Cassell Elementary School’s student council handed over the check during the “Get Behind The Vest” pancake breakfast, reports Patch.com.
The student council put together a dress-down day to garner money for the police officers. Student council president Jenna May gave the check to the alderman during the pancake breakfast.
The third annual breakfast, hosted by Alderman Matt O’Shea, raises money to help Chicago Police Department officers afford new bulletproof vests. Most vests only last five years, after which officers usually have to pay out of their own pockets to buy new ones.
“At $500 or more per vest, in addition to other equipment and uniform expenses, the costs can quickly add up. That’s why we need your help. Your donation ensures that every officer out there protecting you is protected,” according to the “Get Behind The Vest” website.
Over the past three years, the breakfast and other school fundraisers have collected approximately $50,000.
“I don’t know why it is the way that it is, I just know that it needs to be addressed,” O’Shea said.
The Chicago Police Memorial Foundation started the “Get Behind the Vest” program with the goal to provide 8,000 vests to officers. So far, the foundation has handed out 7,000 vests. Once they reach that goal, the organization plans to give out 500 vests per year.
Chicago is experiencing another violent year. The homicide count reached 101 for 2017 over the weekend. (RELATED: Chicago’s Deadly Weekend So Far: Nine Shot, Two Killed)
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