Roy Police Establish Charity To Continue To Help Community Members
Dec 3, 2019, 8:10 PM
ROY, Utah – The Roy Police Department created the “My Impact Program” so officers could continue to serve the people that they would initially help on calls. It was a way to, at times, help them cope with their own PTSD.
“Our officers go out on calls every day, awful calls that they get called to, sometimes they have no idea what happens after they go to the call,” said Program Coordinator Mandie Worton. “They may save a life and transport them to the hospital and we have no idea what happens from there moving on.”
The My Impact Program allows Roy police officers to interact with residents they have served in the past. (Roy Police Department)
The nonprofit charity started in July and since then, Worton said it has continued to grow at a pace that has exceeded their expectations. Funds are raised as officers pay $10 a month from their paychecks to be able to grow a beard.
“The chief doesn’t like beards, so this is a way of compromising,” Worton said. “You know you can grow a beard, but you have to put it back to a good cause.”
In recent months, the program has expanded.
Most recently, Detective Matthew Gwynn organized an effort to help breast cancer survivors. Officers were able to buy and wear special pink badges through October.
(Roy Police Department)
Proceeds of just over $1,000 went to Debra Lynn’s Post Mastectomy Specialties, an Ogden business that helps women get fitted with prosthetics, swimsuits and clothes after having a mastectomy.
“He made me cry when he called,” Carter said. “Because anytime someone thinks of others like that, it just warms your heart, and helps so many people.”
A breast cancer survivor herself, Carter opened the business 20 years ago when she realized those types of resources were not available in Weber County.
Debbie Carter opened Debra Lynn’s Post Mastectomy Specialties in Ogden 20 years ago.
“Breast cancer patients jump into this world they never wanted to join,” Carter said. “You want to be as normal as you were before the cancer, and so products that I carry help to get that normalcy back to your life.”
Carter said thanks to the police donation, 13 of her clients so far have been set up with free prosthetics.
“I hope they know how special it is to be part of their fundraising efforts,” Carter said.
