Crime & Safety

Montgomery Police Raise $1,113 for Mutual Ground

The seven-member Team Montgomery participated in the Walk for Hope, and raised money to help Mutual Ground, Aurora's domestic violence shelter. Mutual Ground will hold its annual candlelight vigil in Montgomery on Oct. 26.

The Montgomery Police Department put together a seven-member team for the Walk for Hope this year, and raised $1,113 to help Mutual Ground, according to Administrative Assistant Kathy Priegel.

The team included two runners (Officers Liz Palko and Chris Johnson) and five walkers: Priegel, Records Clerks Kim Winkler and Toula Coffey, Jeanne Puskaric and her daughter Gabrielle.

The 4th Annual Walk for Hope, a 5K run/walk, took place on Oct. 1, and began at Geneva's Fabyan Forest Preserve. Judy Jacobson, Mutual Ground's fund development director, said the walk raised around $60,000, which will be used to fund Mutual Ground's anti-domestic violence programs.

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Mutual Ground, founded in 1975, is one of the largest and oldest domestic violence shelters in the state. It serves southern Kane and Kendall counties, and its programs, designed to help victims take charge of their situations, are kept confidential and offered free of charge. The shelter exists on donations and grants.

Jacobson said she was impressed with Team Montgomery's commitment to the shelter. And Mutual Ground will return the favor on Oct. 26—the shelter's annual candlelight vigil will move outside Aurora for the first time, to the Montgomery Police Station on Civic Center Drive.

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The vigil is organized each October, which is Domestic Violence Awareness Month. In the past, it has been held at Mutual Ground itself, but last year, it took place in front of the Aurora Police Station on Indian Trail.

Priegel said the police department team was pleased to contribute to a worthy cause.

"We were happy to be able to give a little something back to such a wonderful organization that does so much for our department and our citizens," she said. "This was our way of saying thank you, Mutual Ground, you are needed and greatly appreciated."


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