Fifty Metro East businesses aid effort for BackStoppers organization
Operation Community Blue, a Metro East area campaign involving 50 local companies, netted $14,721.71 for the BackStoppers Inc. organization in St. Louis.
Inspired by recent events involving police shootings, including the death of Godfrey native and St. Louis County Police Officer Blake Snyder, AdVantage News presented a check totaling $14,721.71 to the group late last month.
Blue light bulbs were sold at business establishments throughout Alton, Bethalto, East Alton, Edwardsville, Glen Carbon, Godfrey, Granite City, Hartford, Pontoon Beach and Wood River for $3 apiece, with all proceeds going to BackStoppers. The promotion ran from last October through the end of 2016.
The nearly 5,000 bulbs sold were then placed into porch lights all over the area as a show of support to the responders who put their lives on the line every day for their communities.
“When Officer Blake Snyder was killed in the line of duty, local businesses told us this was the perfect time to show community support for local law enforcement,” AdVantage News Vice President Eric McRoy said. “We started making calls, and within 24 hours we had 50 businesses on board.”
Founded in 1959, BackStoppers provides financial assistance to the spouses and children of fallen police officers as well as firefighters, paramedics and emergency medical technicians who are catastrophically injured or lose their lives in the line of duty.
“This support is tremendous,” BackStoppers Executive Director Chief Ron Battelle said. “The funds raised will help us care for the families of fallen heroes by assisting with tuition, providing health and dental insurance and more. On behalf of The BackStoppers and the families we serve, thank you for your generous support of our mission.”
The 50 participating local businesses include:
ALTON
State Farm – Renee Manley, 3768 Humbert Road
Olive Oil Marketplace, 108 Third St.
Heintz-Bankhead Orthodontics, 2828 Homer Adams Parkway
Castelli’s Restaurant at 255, 3400 Fosterburg Road
1st MidAmerica Credit Union, 3553 College Ave.
Shields Family Pharmacy, 2526 State St.
Piasa Armory, 3685 E. Broadway
1st MidAmerica Credit Union, 3401 E. Broadway
Brickman Orthodontics, 1837 Homer Adams Parkway.
Downing Insurance Agent, 756 Central Ave.
Real Deals Home Décor, 237 E. Delmar
St. Peters Hardware, 2502 State St.
MidAmerica Audiology Group, 1417 Washington Ave., Ste 2
Rib City, 201 E. Center Drive
Spencer T. Olin Golf, 4701 College Ave.
Norton & Rain, Insurance, 2216 State St.
Roberts Motors, 4350 North Alby St.
CNB Bank & Trust, 200 Homer Adams Parkway
Quality Buick GMC Cadillac, 1620 E. Homer Adams Parkway
Alton Physical Therapy, 1719 Clawson
Hit-N-Run, 1818 Washington Ave.
Illinois-American Water Co, 4436 Industrial Drive
The Gift Box, 300 E. Broadway
Alton Little Theater, 2450 Henry St.
BETHALTO
1st MidAmerica Credit Union, 731 E. Bethalto Drive
Riverbend Pediatric Dentistry, 705 Kansas St.
EAST ALTON
1st MidAmerica Credit Union, 419 N. Shamrock
Trust Family Auto Services, 223 N. Bellwood Drive
Bickle Electric Contracting, 28 Mechanical Drive
EDWARDSVILLE
Rain Tunnel Express, 1601 Troy Road
Next Level Sports Performance, 1120 State Route 157, Suite 100
The Pasta House, 1097 IL-157
Country Financial – Kenneth Lenhardt, 105 South Point
Kettle River Furniture, IL-157
Olive Oils & More, 1990 Troy Rd. Unit A
GLEN CARBON
Rain Tunnel Express, 12 Junction Drive West
GODFREY
Allstate – John Standefer, 3015 Godfrey Road
Dan’s Garage Door Service, 5407 Godfrey Road
1st MidAmerica Credit Union, 5301 Godfrey Road
Gerard Fischer American Family, 3014 Godfrey Road
Godfrey Meat Market, 6017 Godfrey Road
NewAmerican Funding, 2724 Grovelin St.
Claywell Asset Mgmt, 3014 Godfrey Rd., Suite B
State Farm – Karen Wilson, 225 Tolle Lane
SmartChoice Auto Sales, 1503 W. Delmar
King Air Conditioning, 7020 Ingham Lane
Rolling Hills Golf Course, 5801 Pierce Lane
GRANITE CITY
Granite City Glass, 1837 Madison Ave.
Bodies Kneaded, 3100 Maryland Rd., Suite B
1st MidAmerica Credit Union, 3361 Fehling Road
Rain Tunnel Express, 1511 Niedringhaus Ave.
Tri-Cities Columbus Home, 4225 Old Alton Road
Jim’s Pawn Shop, 1909 Edison Ave.
Darin Chiropractic, 2861 Madison Ave.
Granite City Glass, 1837 Madison Ave.
Shipley Chiropractic, 2502 Pontoon Road
First Bank, 3600 Nameoki Road
Dr. Christina Midkiff
GCS Credit Union, 3970 Maryville Road
GCS Credit Union, 2001 Lee Ave.
HARTFORD
RJ’s Place, 418 N. Delmar
PONTOON BEACH
S & S Armory, 4127 South Drive
Rain Tunnel Express, 4221 State Route162
WOOD RIVER
American Air HVAC, 191 Old St. Louis Road
Jeffrey’s Flowers by Design, 322 Wesley Drive
Dream Home Realty Centre, 543 E. Ferguson Ave.
Pro Automotive Services, 1095 E. Edwardsville Road
JMP Cycle Kawasaki, 1490 E. Edwardsville Road
1st MidAmerica Credit Union, 1795 E. Edwardsville Road
Jack Schmitt Chevrolet, 1870 E. Edwardsville Road
Midwest Members Credit Union, 101 Wesley Drive
State Farm – Ron WIsnasky, 300 S Central Ave.
Trickey’s Service, Inc., 380 E. Edwardsville Road
AdVantage News presented a donation check to BackStoppers Inc. in St. Louis with funds raised from Operation Community Blue, a campaign involving 50 River Bend area businesses. From left, AdVantage News Managing Editor Fred Pollard, BackStoppers Executive Director Chief Ron Battelle and AdVantage News Vice President Eric McRoy.
