On Thursday, March 23, the Beverly Rotary Club presented a $2,500 grant each to the Beverly Police Department and the Beverly Fire Department for a total of $5,000.
On hand to receive the checks were Lt. Brad Saunders and Firefighter Scott Perkins of the Fire Department and Chief John LeLacheur of the Beverly Police Department. Also attending the ceremony was Mayor Mike Cahill and City Council President Julie Flowers.
Presenting the check on behalf of the Rotary Club was President Mike Jones.
According to Lt. Saunders, the money will be used for equipment upgrades and other support for the Fire Department Dive Team. It is one of the few dive teams on the North Shore, servicing areas north of Boston up to the New Hampshire line. The dive team has a 33-foot rescue boat which is used in the ocean and can be trucked inland to be deployed in ponds, streams, and lakes away from the coast.
Chief LeLacheur said that a specific use of the grant money hadn't yet been determined but he hoped it would be applied in an area benefitting the entire Department.
The Beverly Rotary Club uses monies generated through its fundraising activities to provide grants such as these to local organizations, non-profits and other groups involved in community support and charitable activities.