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NBC26 Cares: Survival Kits for Law Enforcement

Posted at 10:43 PM, Aug 31, 2016
and last updated 2016-08-31 23:43:12-04
A woman in the Fox Valley, along with her friends and family, are making sure law enforcement around Northeast Wisconsin know they're appreciated and respected.
 
This is all through a simple gesture of a goodie bag. Officers and deputies say it's not the contents of the bag, but the message it all sends. 
 
From Lifesavers reminding them of the times they've been one, to Smarties, showing them the wisdom for those split second decisions. Those are just some of the contents from the survival kits for law enforcement Trista Pearson and her friends and family create.
 
“They have a really tough job with everything they do. They go to work and risk their lives and it's hard,” said Trista Pearson. 
 
She sees it first-hand. Her husband works for the Calumet County Sheriff's Department, and before that, Appleton police.
 
“Really showing they're appreciated,” said Pearson. “I really thrive and am passionate about that.”
 
She wanted to make sure those protecting our community know they're supported. So over the past five years, she and friends made the bags and handed them out.
 
This round, they created 250 bags for ten agencies, including Appleton, Fox Valley metro and Outagamie County, impacting more than 300 officers. 
 
With all of the work involved, Pearson got help from friends like Kim Hephner.
 
“It was really great to be able to include that many departments, making sure they all know we're thinking of them every day.” said Kim Hephner, a friend who helped. “I think I made like 400 cookies for it, so I was happy to be able to help that way.”
 
And when her family makes those deliveries, she needs a special helper -- her son, Josh.  
 
“He can walk up to them, knowing they're there to help them,” said Pearson. “They're positive role models in his life.”
 
It’s the littlest volunteers Sgt. David Lund with Appleton Police Dept. notices the most
 
“They're teaching their kids the right thing -- how to grow up and be good community members and be supportive of those who are working to make it a good place,” said Sgt. Lund.  
Pearson says right now, tensions are high across the country surrounding law enforcement.
 
“They get a lot of negative feedback,” she said. “So for them to see that there are people out there that do appreciate everything they do, it's special to me. I just want them to know they are appreciated and everything they do -- it's a good thing.”
 
“We know that when we get into this job, it's not going to be the easiest of jobs,” said Sgt. Lund. 
 
It's little gestures like the goodie bags making all the difference. 
 
“The gift is people are taking time out of their day, putting things together and bringing them to us and sharing with us their support,” said Sgt. Lund. 
 
And with Hershey Kisses to show love for the officers, and Mounds for the mounds of courage they show, Pearson says she'll do this for all long as she can, letting officers know she has their back.
 
“We really do appreciate everything you do and it doesn't go unnoticed,” she said.