SPRINGFIELD – The Lions Club is well known for its charitable reputation, and it has certainly lived up to this reputation. On Monday, Aug. 28, the Lions Club presented the Springfield Police Department’s CHETT program with a $6,000 check.
The CHETT (Community Help Easing Troubled Times) Program was founded in 2015 by local Springfield veteran Chester (Chet) Martin and his wife Carolyn. The program provides resources to meet the short-term emergency needs of Springfield community members affected by crime and other critical incidents.
In the past, the CHETT program funds have been used for meals, lodging, transportation, crime scene damage repair, and other immediate short-term assistance needs.
Starting with a $700 donation from the Martins, the CHETT program has continued to grow entirely from community-based donations. Zak Goza-Lewis, Public Information Coordinator for Springfield PD said the donation from the Lions Club is incredibly important to the continued success of the CHETT Program.
The CHETT program also has a subdivision known as CHETT PET. CHETT PET provides funding and resources to animals of owners who have been victims of crimes and abuse. A portion of the donated funds from the Lions Club will be allocated to CHETT PET.
Each year, the Lions Club chooses a new organization to donate to. Lions Club president Monica Henkle said that the Lions Club values and appreciates the work the CHETT Program does for the Springfield community. Being entirely donation-based, this donation is monumental for the important work the CHETT Program does, according to Henkle.
