Supporting Local Police and Fire K-9 Squads

Migi is a narcotics detection dog with Annapolis P.D. She's enjoying a pig's ear provided through Chesapeake K-9 Fund.

In recent years, many police departments are adding a specialized unit to their forces, one that is not completely human. These K-9 forces do a number of different jobs from drug-sniffing, bomb-sniffing, comforting crime victims, to subduing those running away from a crime scene. They can be found with their officer partner in many different venues. But having these canine units can add expenses to the police, and other public, departments that use them, in the midst of tight municipal and county budgets.

That's where an organization like the CHESAPEAKE K-9 FUND comes in. This particular organization is located in Annapolis and got its start in 2016. The group functions primarily as a funding nonprofit agency, helping local police departments acquire and train additional dogs and partners and fund veterinary care, appropriate safety equipment for the animals, repairs for the kennels when the police use them to house the dogs, and food.



In its fund-raising capacity, the K-9 Fund hosts various fund-raising events, which also offer the supporting public an opportunity to meet with officers and dogs from the departments receiving monetary support. In a sense, that helps members of the public learn more about what officers do and promotes better community relations by meeting together in a social setting.

Just this Monday, Chesapeake K-9 Fund was part of a Happy Hour fund-raiser at Stan and Joe's Saloon on West Street Annapolis. It was termed an "Explosive" Happy Hour, since the funds were
being raised for the Fire Department Bomb Squad, including K-9 partners. A Flying Dog Auction was held as a way to raise needed money and members of the Bomb Squad, along with the rest of the Fire Department were special guests. The contributions numbered in the thousands of dollars.

Some of the attendees at the "Explosive" Happy Hour.

Then, this spring, it's time to get on your running shoes for the Chesapeake K-9 Fund 5K. Participants are still being enrolled at this time. You have a few months left, since the event is scheduled for Sunday, May 20, starting at 7:30 AM until 12:30 PM at Quiet Waters Park. Called the "Run For The Dogs In Blue", there are also other attractions available to those who prefer not to run. You can watch live K-9 demonstrations allowing the dogs to show everyone their skills, and an opportunity to get your picture taken with your favorite member of the K-9 squad (Great opportunity for the kids!), and at the end an awards ceremony for the runners. All proceeds go to local law enforcement K-9 units.

Deputy Goodman with her canine partner, Chase.

If you love dogs and want to make sure that police and fire department dogs get the very best, this is a group for you, with fun money-raising activities, and making sure the dogs get the best life possible.

Thanks for information from this Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/pg/ChesapeakeK9Fund/about/?ref=page_internal; this event page on Chesapeake K-9 Fund: http://www.chesapeakek9fund.org/events; and the above link.

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Basic Needs Provided in Tanzania Villages

Children received Christmas gifts from Operation Christmas Boxes.

The year is 2011. A young woman goes to Africa as a volunteer teacher, training teachers in Morogoro, Tanzania. She had planned to stay for ten months, but she saw the vast need in the area. Not only was the need in education (not enough access to educational settings, not enough teachers, not enough training for teachers), but also in health care.

The young woman, Karah Germroth, ended up founding MOYO WA AFRIKA, based in both Tanzania and the United States, to raise the funds to help the local communities to meet their needs. But, unlike many other organizations, the needs and the ways of meeting those needs, is determined by those who live in the area, those who know the needs best, through their communities.



Once the organization was established, Ms. Germroth recalled an issue at the Arushani Kindergarten in Engaruka, Maasiland. Students were not really food secure, since there were times that there wasn't even enough food to feed them one meal in a day. That's when a project to establish a garden at the school, along with a rain capturing system was devised.

Ms. Gemroth discussed the plans at the time, "We expect that our project will impact the community as a whole by providing education on rain-harvesting and gardening that can be shared and used by others: the students at the school through providing healthy, diverse food choices; and the future students by helping the kindergarten program become more sustainable and able to continue providing early education to future classes." Now, with the garden a reality, it provides additional food sources for over 600 students.

Other programs include a girls' center, which provides housing and up-to-date schooling, for 35 girls, leading up to qualification for certificate programs that provide pathways to careers. A secondary school sponsorship program provides funds for more than 30 students to attend secondary school programs, that lead to higher education. Funding also allows those in need to obtain medical care, including surgery for four patients, vital medical treatment for 20 others, and eye exams and prescription glasses for 100 individuals.

Moyo Wa Afrika even provides the basics with its funding. If you remember back to when you were a child, you might remember how quickly you outgrew your shoes. It's no different in Africa; little ones need shoes. This organization began a Tiny Toes Tanzania program to provide shoes for these youngsters. Since it started, more than 500 children have received shoes.

Young children receive shoes.

Victories in this part of the world are counted individual by individual. It comes in the noting that a young woman completed an education course and went on to become employed, seven students passed a significant exam, a whole class of preschool students received shoes, two women received sewing machines for their home businesses, and a young woman received a school uniform that enabled her to start secretarial school. They all add up to a community doing just a little bit better.

This is Eliamani, who is staying at the Girls' Center while she finishes a day care teacher certificate program.

Thanks for information from this article on Pollination Project: https://thepollinationproject.org/grants-awarded/karah-germroth-food-security-in-maasailand/; this Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/pg/moyowaafrika/about/?ref=page_internal; this page from Moyo Wa Afrika: http://www.moyowaafrika.org/what-we-do/; and the above link.

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