LA PLATA, Md. — A local partnership is asking the community to help ensure La Plata police officers have the resources they need to provide immediate assistance to individuals and families facing hardship through Project H.O.P.E. — Helping Others Police Encounters.
Established in January 2024, Project H.O.P.E. was created through a partnership between the La Plata Police Department, Lifestyles of Maryland and generous private donors. The initiative is designed to provide practical, immediate support to people in the La Plata area who are struggling to meet basic needs. The program is modeled after a successful effort first launched by a police department in Buffalo, Minnesota.
One of the program’s most impactful tools has been the distribution of gift cards by La Plata police officers during their daily interactions with the public. Officers can provide the cards to individuals or families experiencing difficult circumstances, allowing them to purchase a meal, fuel their vehicle, pay for an overnight hotel stay or meet other urgent needs.
The gift cards also give officers a way to brighten someone’s day during a crisis without having to personally cover the cost, something officers have often done out of their own pockets in the past.
Project H.O.P.E. operates on an annual budget of approximately $15,000. The estimate is based on La Plata’s 28 police officers distributing an average of 10 gift cards each year, with each card valued at $50.
Currently, the program has just $1,745 available, leaving a funding gap of $13,255 to fully support the coming year.
Organizers say every donation helps provide hope and immediate assistance to local residents during some of life’s most challenging moments.
Community members who would like to support the program can make a donation through Lifestyles of Maryland by visiting: HERE
After opening the donation page, donors should select Project H.O.P.E.
Project organizers hope the community will rally behind the effort to ensure officers can continue providing meaningful assistance when it is needed most.