Title
CONSIDERATION OF THE ACCEPTANCE OF A DONATION OF FIFTY (50) CHILDREN’S BACKPACKS AND FIFTEEN (15) BABY BAGS VALUED AT $2,269.91 FROM FORESTERS FINANCIAL TO BE USED BY THE POLICE DEPARTMENT.
Body
BACKGROUND: The Norman Police Department was approached by Ms. Kristi Tarwater, an employee with the Oklahoma Department of Human Services, with the proposal to provide the Norman Police Department with backpacks filled with snacks, toys, comfort, and personal items that can be provided to children placed into protective custody. Ms. Tarwater, and a group of volunteers, used a grant from Foresters Financial to purchase and fill the backpacks.
Foresters Financial, previous branded as First Investors, describes itself as a group of diversified financial services companies that includes a registered broker-dealer, an investment adviser, a life insurance company and a transfer agent. They provide life insurance, savings, retirement and investment solutions to families. They claim assets of almost $12 billion with a total of $28 billion in total funds under management.
Ms. Kristi Tarwater purchased and filled an initial 50 children’s backpacks (and the contents) valued at approximately $36.72 per backpack. Additionally, Ms. Tarwater purchased another additional 15 baby bags (and the contents) for approximately $28.93 per bag. The total initial donation amounts to $2,269.91. The backpacks are being presented to City Council to be accepted as a donation under Chapter 8, Section 8-111 of the Norman City Code.
DISCUSSION: Chapter 8, Section 8-111 of the Norman City Code states as follows:
“Any donation valued above $250.00 to be received by the City of Norman, whether in the form of monies or any other thing of value, shall be required to be accepted by the Council of the City of Norman prior to any use or disbursement of such monies or thing of value by or to any City operation or cause.”
The Norman Police Department is obligated, under state statute, to place children into protective custody when they are in need of immediate protection due to an imminent safety threat (Title 10A, Section 1-4-201 of the Oklahoma State Statutes). In these cases, where the circumstances or surroundings are such that they must be removed from their home and/or the care or custody of their parent, legal guardian, or custodian, the children rarely have appropriate clothing, toys, or food. Additionally, although an outsider may believe that removal from an abusive or neglectful situation is not distressing, in reality children are moved away from their comfort zones and into unfamiliar surroundings with people they do not know. In most cases, children will wait, usually at the Police Department, for several hours while emergency placement is arranged. The backpacks, with the items inside, give the children clothing, snacks, games, toys and other items that not only help occupy their time while they wait for placement, but also give them something that they can call their own during a time of drastic turmoil. The result is that we can reduce a least some of the trauma children suffer when removed from their caregivers.
Although the backpacks and baby bags are being provided as a part of the $2,269.91 donation from Foresters Financial, these items do have value and will be committed to use by the Norman Police Department. Ms. Kristi Tarwater has indicated that it is her intention, as well as that of Foresters Financial, to make on-going donations of these items so that the Norman Police Department can maintain a stock of the items. It is not anticipated that future donations of replacement items will exceed $250 and require individual acceptance by Council. Maintenance, replacement, and distribution of the backpacks and baby bags will be monitored and controlled through the Crime Prevention Office, Special Services Section, Uniform Support Division, and Operations Bureau of the Norman Police Department. The backpacks and baby bags (along with a snack bag) will be filled with the following items:
Backpack:
Stuffed animal, book (matches the stuffed animal), blanket, puzzle, putty, flashing finger lights, stress ball, Little Men toy, pencil bag (with pencils, Crayons, a sharpener, and an eraser), folder (with a drawing pad, a coloring book, color sheets, a comic book, and a puzzle), and toiletries kit (with body wash, a toothbrush/tooth paste set, a comb, and dental floss).
Baby Bag:
Diapers, wipes, blanket, receiving blanket, teether, rattle, bib, onesie, socks, washcloth, toy keys, soft book.
Snack Bag:
2 bottles of water, 2 water flavors, 2 granola bars, 2 cheese crackers, 2 sweet and salty mixed nut packs.
Presenting these items as a donation formally documents their official acceptance by the City for Norman Police Department use.
RECOMMENDATION: It is recommended the City of Norman accept the donation of Children’s backpacks and baby bags.