State Farm agents donate to charities

Forty local State Farm agents donated $20,000 last month to a variety of organizations, including the Ridgeland Police Department along with gift cards for grocery workers.

Ridgeland agent Dean Nigreville said that State Farm challenged their local agencies to give back to their communities by the end of July. He said that locally some 40 agents in the tri-county area reported 100 percent participation in the Good Neighbor Community Funding drive. Individual donations had a $500 cap.

Nigreville was one of two Ridgeland agents to donate their $500 to the Ridgeland Police Department.

“We just have no idea what they go through,” Nigreville said.

His office was joined by Steve Week’s office, another Ridgeland agent, in donating to the police department. 

“We could give to any nonprofit and we chose our local police department,” Weeks said. “Those men and women go through a lot every day to keep us safe.”

Local agents raised $22,500 that went to local nonprofits. Weeks said that he could not remember when the challenge went out but knew contributions were counted through the end of July.

Police Chief John Neal said that he was happy to receive the unexpected donations.

“It was a surprise,” Neal said.

Neal presented the donations to city officials at Tuesday evening’s regular city board meeting. He said he had no plans for the money at this point, but did note that the funds would go into an account that accumulates unexpected income like donations. The balance of that account is periodically checked against price tags on the department's wish list.

Nigreville said that in the past, donations form his agency have gone towards the K9 program and Weeks said he suggested the money be used to buy officers a meal next time they have large a meeting or training session.

Donations went to a variety of causes. Weeks said that cleaning supplies for a variety of non-profits were a popular donation as well as lunches for non-profit staff. Nigreville said that a number of neighborhood organizations received cash and supplies. 

Canton agent Arnel Bolden gave workers at a Canton grocery store gift cards to buy food for themselves and their families.

“The idea was that we could donate to anyone that befits the community in any way,” Nigreville said. “I know Arnel Bolden in Canton gave a bunch of grocery workers some gift cards which is great because those people are going through a lot to stack our food and keep stuff on the shelves for people to buy.”

Weeks said that “good neighbor” is in State Farm’s promotional material and that he was happy they could live their values.

“This was a big deal for State Farm,” Weeks said. “Like a good neighbor, state farm is there is in our advertising and I am glad we could be a good neighbor.”