SWAMPSCOTT — Kearsarge Lodge #217 of the Independent Order of Odd Fellows has donated $3,500 to the Swampscott Police Department to help School Resource Officer Brian Wilson acquire a new cruiser properly outfitted for Sora, the department’s K9 unit.
Cabot Dodge, vice grand of the lodge, explained how the development came to life.
“I was talking with Officer Wilson, and he mentioned how his cruiser was starting to fail, and that the department needed to raise $75,000 for a new cruiser that’s properly outfitted for Sora,” Dodge said. “There was an individual who donated $25,000, and the lodge donated $3,500 to help the department get a little closer to its goal.”
Dodge continued, saying that the lodge feels that it’s important to contribute to the safety of the community.
He noted that the lodge donates to other community centers and organizations. With Dodge being a former school resource officer for Marblehead High School, the mission hit close to home.
“The program is so important when it comes to building trust within the community, and we wanted to support that,” he said. “Our lodge always looks to do good in the community… We feel that helping out with security and safety is invaluable.”
Dodge added, “We’re trying to partner with them to help them out the best we can with the resources that we’ve gathered over the years, and we’re blessed to use those resources to help out the community.”
Wilson explained that the department uses donations to fund things like Sora’s veterinary appointments and equipment.
“Our cruiser eventually started to show some wear and tear… We’re lucky to have people to reach out to and raise the funds,” Wilson said. “The Odd Fellows have donated to us in the past to help take care of Sora, and the support is huge.”
Wilson said, since the department first got Sora, “She’s shown her worth 100 times over.”
“We (the department) do everything because we care, and we know the impact she’s had around the community… So, to see the return of support, I can’t even put it into words,” he said. “We don’t do the job for the grace, but it’s nice to know the support is out there.”
