Waupaca County deputies raise more than $8,600 for family
The Waupaca County Sheriff’s Office raised more than $8,600 after posting an appeal on its Facebook page to help a family who had been the victim of fraud.
According to the original Facebook post on Dec. 14, Deputy Paul Hanneman was investigating a fraud complaint when he learned the family needed help.
The mother had purchased a Xbox Series X on the internet for her teenage son for Christmas. She sent the money, but the game system never arrived.
“Her son has a mobile impairment, the gaming system helps to take his mind off from his health condition,” according to the post.
“While speaking with the family, Deputy Hanneman learned they have had a tough year. The mother was hospitalized with her own medical condition. Nineteen days after she was released from the hospital, the family’s home burned down.”
On Thursday, Dec. 23, the Waupaca County Sheriff’s Office reported that they were able to present the family with far more than an Xbox.
Deputy Bryan Strobusch worked diligently on obtaining an Xbox, as this gaming system is hard to come by.
Hanneman, Strobusch and several other deputies visited the family after raising $8,625 from people in the community.
In addition to the Xbox, the deputies gave them a Fleet Farm gift card, Festival Foods gift card, Shell gift cards, the purchase of the Xbox, clothes, shoes, Xbox games, controller and a heated blanket.
“We also had generous donations of lotions, socks, kitchen towels, a turkey and Tupperware for the family,” according to a press release. “We were able to present this family with a check in the amount of $6,671.46 to help make their lives a little easier.”
The release concludes, “Everyone here at the Sheriff’s Office feel very humbled and blessed at the generosity of the donations from the community and county employees and the timeframe in which this was achieved. There are no words to express our appreciation.”