Amber Willard
GLENDALE -- More than 30 bags of candy and cookies, some baked by
local Girl Scouts, have been delivered to Glendale Police headquarters in
a show of support since last week's terrorist assaults.
"They've been coming in to say 'thanks for being there for us,' " said
Officer Tim Spruill, who spends many of his shifts covering the
department's front desk. "I think it makes people realize how vulnerable
they are when they see police officers hurt."
Some 300 rescue workers are believed to have been caught when the
World Trade Center towers in New York collapsed Sept. 11 after being
struck by a hijacked commercial jet.
Glendale fire stations have also received an outpouring of support
from the community, in the forms of food, flowers and money.
"People have been coming to the front doors of stations with flowers,
poems and money," Battalion Chief Mike Haney said. "At Incarnation
School, the kids donated their lunch money -- $412."
All the money left at local fire stations will be forwarded to the
firefighting victims of the attacks.
"Every penny we get here will be sent to the New York Fire Department
to be used in a way that most meets their needs, be it to the victims'
families or whatever. They know better than we do what they need," Fire
Marshal Steve Howard said, adding that the donations will be sent to the
Uniformed Firefighter's Assn. Widows and Children's Fund in New York.
The Glendale Firemen's Club is donating $5,000 to a charity pool of
departments within the state, which will then be sent to a fund for New
York firefighters. The club is giving an additional $1,000 to the local
American Red Cross chapter for its aid efforts, officials said.
The Firefighters Quest for Burn Survivors, a nonprofit group started
by Glendale firefighters to aid burn victims, plans to make a $15,000
donation to three East Coast burn centers to help people who suffered
burns in the attacks.
Glendale Police have also been receiving money from the community that
is earmarked for the attack victims.
"We'll reallocate it to our brothers and sisters in New York," said
police spokesman Sgt. Bruce Fox, adding that the funds will go to the New
York Police Benevolent Assn.
Both police and firefighters said they have received more support from
residents in the days since the attacks.
"People have even stopped us when we're eating," Officer Matt Bolton
said Tuesday.
