Katie Gordon, Sgt. Katie Guisinger, Lisa Sherman, Katelyn Bovinett, Karen Varley and Kristen Crouthamel resist the Grinch’s attempt to steal the check.
Special to the Times Vedette
The 10 Squared Women of Guthrie County held its second quarter meeting on Tuesday, May 28 at Twin Vines Winery in Panora. Fifty-two women attended in person and 12 members attended via Zoom.
After hearing presentations from Stuart Police Department Community Programs (SPDCP), Guthrie Center Lions Club and Little Panther Daycare and Preschool, the group announced a lump sum donation of $14,400 to SPDCP. This consists of member donations and several employer matches.
The SPDCP is a 501(c)3 non-profit that was incorporated in 2022 but has been serving the Stuart area for years. As a nonprofit, SPDCP relies heavily on fundraisers, donations and grants. The mission of SPDCP is to improve relationships between law enforcement and the community through community programming, outreach, education and youth activities.
SPDCP programming includes Books & Badges, Bicycle Rodeo, National Donut Day, Summer Youth Programs, National Night Out and Shop With A Cop. SPDCP also participates in community events such as Good Egg Days, Trunk or Treat and Emergency Services Christmas, along with programming at West Central Valley Schools through their school resource officer program with Sgt. Katie Guisinger.
Books & Badges was SPDCP’s first program, which began in 2019 in partnership with the Stuart Public Library. During Books & Badges, Sgt. Guisinger reads stories, gives away free books and has other activities or crafts for the kids to do.
Summer Youth Programs began in 2022, to offer local youth with fun activities during June. Summer Youth Programs consist of four camps that take local youth on trips to Springbrook State Park, the Blank Park Zoo and to an Iowa Cubs game.
Shop With A Cop also began in 2022, as a way to help at risk or economically disadvantaged youth in West Central Valley Schools with holiday shopping. Officers take youths on a fun-filled day of shopping, lunch and wrapping presents. The youths shop not only for themselves but also for any household members they reside with.
The Bicycle Rodeo was re-established in 2023, after an almost 10-year hiatus. During the Bicycle Rodeo, a book about bicycle safety was read, a STEM demonstration was completed, free helmets were handed out and a basic safety course was available for kids to participate in. A light lunch is served, and new bicycles are also raffled off.
“SPDCP wishes to extend our sincere appreciation and gratitude to the 10 Squared Women of Guthrie County for their generous donation. Funding for community programming and youth activities can sometimes be hard to come by, and this donation will allow SPDCP to not only enhance our current programming but also to expand with new programming,” Guisinger said.
10 Squared Women of Guthrie County has donated $343,050 since its inception in 2017.
The 10 Squared Women’s group holds meetings quarterly the fourth Tuesday in February, May, August and November. The group currently has 144 members and welcomes new members to help their communities and Guthrie County. To learn how to get involved, visit the Facebook page at https://www.facebook.com/10squaredwomengc, or email 10squaredgc@gmail.com.