Mayor Ray Delong presents a plaque to Bill Graham for the generosity of the Walmart Foundation
By: Jarrison Steiner
For a while now, the Antwerp Police Department has been giving back to the community (not that they don’t already do enough). As soon as it gets around the holidays, Chief George Clemens, or other members of the department, are out presenting Walmart gift cards to members of the Antwerp community. This is such a wonderful charity that the department holds for people in Antwerp who are in need or have given back. This program is made possible by the Walmart Foundation. The Walmart Foundation was able to provide $1500 for the police department to give away.
On Tuesday, January 17th, the Antwerp Town Council held its monthly meeting. However, this meeting was not simply an ordinary meeting. Chief Clemens, along with the Council and Mayor Delong, had invited Bill Graham, manager of the Defiance Walmart, to accept an award thanking Walmart and the people involved for providing the grant. In the process of applying for the grant, Chief Clemens went online and applied at the Walmart Foundation’s website. This application was first noticed by Rachel Hollinger, a Rep. for Anderson, who then brought it to Mr. Graham’s attention. Being that this was a smaller, local grant for a community, he was able to approve it and provide the police department with the funds. The Walmart Foundation offers many grants. The community grants can go up to $2,500, but the Foundation also offers a higher level of grants. Regional/state level grants can range from $25,000 to $200,000 and National grants range from $250,000 and above.
Three plaques were given, one was for Bill Graham, the second was for Rachel Hollinger, and the third was specifically for Walmart and will be hung up at the store in Defiance. Chief Clemens, the Antwerp PD, Mayor Delong, and the entire town council was very appreciative of Walmart for making this program possible.
