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Henry County Sheriff’s Office donates $11,200 to local elementary schools
Southeast Iowa Union offers audio versions of articles using Instaread. Some words may be mispronounced.
MT. PLEASANT — When Henry County Sheriff Rich McNamee and his deputies presented oversize checks to every elementary school in the county this month, the moment represented more than charity; it was a show of partnership between law enforcement and education.
Each of the county’s eight elementary schools — Salem, Harlan, Van Allen, Lincoln, Clark, Winfield-Mt. Union, WACO and Mt. Pleasant Christian — received $1,400 raised through the Sheriff’s Office’s August golf tournament, totaling $11,200 in donations.
“This money came from our golf tournament fundraiser back in August,” McNamee said. “The proceeds of the golf tournament were split amongst the eight elementary schools for them to use for expenses that they normally do not have funded and teachers pay out of pocket, such as Kleenex, hand sanitizer, etc.”
McNamee credited local residents and businesses for making the effort possible, saying, “Thank you to every individual and business that donated toward and made our golf tournament and silent auction a success.”
Across Henry County, educators expressed gratitude for the contributions, calling them both generous and timely as teachers face growing supply costs.
“WMU Elementary would like to extend a huge thank you to the Henry County Iowa Sheriff’s Office for their generous $1,400 donation to support classroom needs,” Winfield-Mt. Union Elementary said in a public post. “Your commitment to our students and community makes a lasting impact.”
Lincoln Elementary in Mt. Pleasant wrote, “A huge thank you to the Henry County Sheriff’s Department for their generous $1,400 donation! Your support helps us continue to provide the very best for our students.”
Salem Elementary echoed the sentiment.
“We are so grateful for your support of our students and school. Partnerships like this make a big difference in helping us provide the best opportunities for our kids,” a school spokesperson stated.
Mt. Pleasant Christian School emphasized the value of connection, saying, “We love seeing law enforcement support[ing] and involving themselves in our schools! What a great way to build relationships with students and the community!”
The golf tournament, held at Mt. Pleasant Golf & Country Club, is just one of several ways the Sheriff’s Office invests in local classrooms. Deputy Preston Roberts, the county’s school resource officer, spends his days in the New London district teaching safety lessons and building relationships.
Earlier this fall, Roberts greeted students arriving in the school parking lot with a lighthearted reminder about seat belt safety, handing out Smarties to those buckled up and Dum Dums to those who weren’t.
Beyond day-to-day presence, the department has also supplied hundreds of Stop the Bleed emergency kits to county classrooms and partners with local agencies to offer active-shooter training and “Operation Prom” safety events for students and staff. Those efforts, McNamee has said, are part of the department’s broader commitment to safety and readiness in Henry County schools.
Educators say that approach matters. The $1,400 donations may pay for tissues or hand sanitizer, but the Sheriff’s Office’s continued involvement reinforces a message of community care.
As the oversize checks were delivered across the county this month, the gesture highlighted a simple truth that resonates well beyond the classroom walls: when a community invests together, from the golf green to the school hallway, everyone benefits.
Comments: AnnaMarie.Kruse@southeastiowaunion.com
