- November 23, 2024
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Two Ormond Beach Police officers received a key to the city after they saved a suicidal individual's life on Christmas Day last year, and went a step further to help the person with rent.
"This is a great story with a great ending," Ormond Beach Mayor Bill Partington said. "It just makes me so proud of our community to be able to recognize these two young men."
Officers Austin Long and Cameron Hanson-Auld were recognized during the City Commission meeting on Tuesday, Feb. 19. Before presenting them with a key to the city, Partington relayed the events that took place on Dec. 25, 2018. He said Handson-Auld was the first to encounter the suicidal individual, and that he called for more officers and started a dialogue with the person. Long responded to the scene and both officers were able to take the person into protective custody.
Once the person was safe, the officers learned that the person had recently switched jobs, wouldn't be able to pay rent for the month and feared being evicted for it. The officers then pooled their money and ensured the individual could pay his rent.
"Thank you guys." Partington said. "You represent the best."
In honor of Tomoka Elementary's first official kindness week, first grade gifted teacher Laura Rahaim and her 23 students worked with the Volusia County coordinator for a national organization to make fleece blankets for local hospitalized children.
The organization, Project Linus, has chapters in all 50 states and helps provide blankets for children in need. The parents of Rahaim's students helped the initiative by donating new material, enough for each first-grader to create his or her own blanket to donate.
"We decided to do this project to continue the cycle of giving," said Rahaim in an email. "A few of our students have been recipients themselves of security blankets, while hospitalized, and understand what it feels like to need some extra snuggles when you’re not feeling so well."
Ormond Beach company Air One Heating and Cooling sponsored a car in the recent Daytona 500 Xfinity race, partnering with Veterans 4 Child Rescue.
According to a press release, once company owners John Bruce and Brian Milligan learned that #74 Mike Harmon's Xfinity Camary was partnering with the
veterans organization, they knew they wanted to be involved. The company prides itself on its strong vision for outreach partnering with military, veteran or first responders.
The press release states that Air One helped raised over $10,000 for a local veteran's nursing home to buy Christmas gifts for all the residents, as told by Vince Faulker, veteran outreach director for Team RWB.
Local nonprofit Hush Puppy Haven hosted a day of pampering at Amazing You Day Spa in Ormond Beach for the residents of Beacon House, the domestic abuse shelter for Volusia County, on Feb. 17.
The inaugural Love Yourself Spa Day event included complimentary spa treatments and lunch just a few days after Valentine's Day.
“Valentine’s Day can be a difficult time for many," Found Jen Adams said. "We wanted to give these women the chance to relax,
to take a small vacation from a very challenging time in their lives. Although our main mission is the safety of the pets impacted by domestic violence, we wanted to do something special to focus on the women. Everyone deserves to be pampered and we were happy to partner with Amazing You Day Spa and Joe’s Crab Shack for this event.”
For more information or to donate, visit Hushpuppyhaven.org
