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Project Blue Light shines on

Fundraiser will benefit SOS in honor of the Rev. Al Henderson

-Submitted photo
Project Blue Light provides blue-tinted light bulbs that people can use to show support for law enforcement officers. There will be a fundraiser at 11 a.m. Sunday at St. Paul Lutheran Church in honor of the Rev. Al Henderson, who was a chaplain for several law enforcement agencies and first responders in the area.

A fundraiser benefiting one of the late Rev. Allen Henderson’s passions, Serving Our Servants, will be held from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Sunday at St. Paul Lutheran Church, 400 S. 13th St.

Nonprofit organization Project Blue Light, which has grown since its inception in Charles City in 2015, has aimed to spread support for law enforcement by distributing blue-tinted light bulbs patrons can use to show they back the blue.

The organization has made a few showings over the last several years in Fort Dodge.

“Al always came in during events in Fort Dodge to assist,” said founder Brian Waid. “Any time we were in the area, he was quick to grab guys and help us. We knew him well.”

To honor him, they will be giving out their signature bulbs with a freewill bucket to keep the organization Henderson started moving forward.

Henderson was profiled by The Messenger in September for his work with Serving Our Servants, a group formed to support and appreciate public servants. The group was formed about five years ago.

SOS helps with things like providing water and food at major incidents to raising money to buy the Fort Dodge police officers new dress caps that they can wear for formal occasions.

After Henderson’s untimely death, Project Blue Light knew they had to give back somehow.

Since their project had enough money, they decided to pay it forward in Henderson’s memory.

“It’s been really tough, especially the manner in which is happened,” Waid said. “He was a selfless guy. It was really hard to imagine that something so awful could happen to somebody so selfless.”

He’s asking Fort Dodge to overwhelm the stand at the church on Sunday, where they will be bringing 500 compact fluorescent bulbs.

“Blue lights stand as a tribute of fallen officers,” Waid said, considering Henderson a brother in blue by his work with law enforcement. “It’s a great remembrance of Al.”

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