25-04-2025
Gaylord S.T.O.P. chapter helps family get tires, backs donation drive for homeless
GAYLORD — New tires have made a difference in the lives of a student and their family thanks to a member of the Gaylord chapter of the Michigan State Police Trooper Outreach Partnership (S.T.O.P.).
While volunteering as a coach, S.T.O.P. board member Nathan Lawes discovered that a student and their family were using an air compressor daily to fill leaking tires just to manage basic needs like getting to school, practice, work and the grocery store.
The trooper saw the urgent need of new tires for safe, reliable transportation. The S.T.O.P. chapter partnered with Walmart of Gaylord to purchase four new all-weather tires for the family's vehicle. Thanks to this collaboration, the student and their family now have a safe and dependable means of transportation.
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Separately, an act of compassion by a third grader at South Maple Elementary School in Gaylord has grown into a school-wide effort to help people experiencing homelessness.
The eight-year-old student's idea — to collect pillows and blankets for those in need — inspired others to rally behind the proposal. The student reached out to the Michigan State Police for assistance and the State Trooper Outreach Partnership responded quickly, contacting the school principal to help turn the idea into reality. From that collaboration, the Share the Warmth initiative was created.
Now, the third grade class at South Maple Elementary will be collecting new pillows and blankets from May 5–9. All donations will go to The Refuge of Otsego County for distribution to individuals and families in need.
The Michigan State Police Gaylord Post will also accept donations 8 a.m. until 4 p.m. from May 5-9. If your child attends South Maple, donations can be dropped off at the school.
— Contact Paul Welitzkin at pwelitzkin@
This article originally appeared on The Petoskey News-Review: State trooper outreach in Gaylord helps family get tires, aids donation drive for homeless
