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FDPD receives stars from middle school students

-Messenger photo by Peter Kaspari Fort Dodge Police Officer Joelyn Johnson helps decorate the Fort Dodge Police Department's Christmas tree with a Star of Hope Friday morning.

Christmas came early for the Fort Dodge Police Department Friday as middle school students gave the officers stars as a way of offering hope.

The Fort Dodge Middle School students were all members of the Friends of Rachel Club, which is part of Rachel’s Challenge, a nationwide program that promotes kindness.

Kim Bodholdt, the director of school climate transformation at FDMS, said Friends of Rachel works at promoting positivity around Fort Dodge.

“Each year the FOR (Friends of Rachel) Club at the middle school works on different activities and to spread kindness throughout the school or community or world,” Bodholdt said. “And we came across the idea of the stars of hope trees.”

The inspiration came from the New York Says Thank You Foundation, which was started after the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks.

-Messenger photo by Peter Kaspari Tory Bennett, 12, a student at Fort Dodge Middle School, decorates the Christmas tree in the Fort Dodge Police Department office with a star of hope. Bennett is a member of the Friends of Rachel club at FDMS.

“(It) encourages organizations or families or anyone to paint stars with words of hope on them and then give those to anyone who could use hope or anyone who needs hope,” Bodholdt said.

Club members first decorated a tree at the middle school and then had to decide where in the community the stars would be donated to.

Bodholdt said FOR Club members decided on the Fort Dodge Police Department after the Nov. 2 shooting deaths of Des Moines Police Sgt. Anthony “Tony” Beminio and Urbandale Police Officer Justin Martin. Beminio once lived in Eagle Grove and Martin grew up in Rockwell City.

Shortly before 8 a.m. Friday, Bodholdt and about 10 FOR Club members arrived at the Webster County Law Enforcement Center to present the stars to the officers.

Seven officers were present to accept the stars, which were then used to decorate the FDPD’s office Christmas tree.

Officer Joelyn Johnson said she and her fellow officers greatly appreciate the support.

“I know we get a lot of support from the community,” Johnson said. “And we’re really thankful for that.”

Friends of Rachel Club member Robbie Jasper, 13, explained the purpose of the stars to the officers.

“It’s to give hope to the officers,” he said.

Bodholdt said more stars will be given out to different groups and organizations throughout the year.

In all, Bodholdt said there are between 25 and 30 students that regularly attend FOR Club meetings, which are held Friday morning.

“All students have the opportunity to paint stars,” she said.

Additionally, Bodholdt said the club is open to all Fort Dodge Middle School students.

“We would welcome any middle school students to come to the FOR Club at any time,” she said. “We’re always trying to include more students.”

Rachel’s Challenge has been a part of both the Fort Dodge Community School District and St. Edmond Catholic School since 2013. It is named after Rachel Joy Scott, the first victim of the Columbine High School shooting in April 1999 in Littleton, Colorado.

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