Westfield wants to help local heroes, their families

The City of Westfield on Wednesday announced applications are now being accepted for the Hometown Hero Program. The purpose of the program is to recognize and assist Westfield residents deployed serving in our country’s armed forces or public safety personnel injured in the line of duty by providing snow removal and lawn care services.

“This program is just another example of the spirit and compassion of our community,” said Mayor Andy Cook. “I am proud of city leaders and community organizations that answered this call to action as a small token of gratitude for our Westfield friends and neighbors who selflessly commit to serve and protect.”

Willis

Cook

“After deploying to Iraq for 12 months and leaving a wife and two babies behind in Westfield, I experienced firsthand the impacts service to this nation has on families,” said Westfield City Council member Scott Willis, who originally proposed the program. “I thought it was important to create a program that took care of not only military members mobilized, but also public safety personnel who put their lives on the line each and every day for our community.”

The program was created to marshal the community’s public and private resources in order to alleviate the practical burdens that families of deployed servicemen and servicewomen and public safety personnel injured in the line of duty will face. Lawn care services including mowing and trimming will be provided on an as-needed basis and driveway and sidewalk snow removal will be provided within 24 hours of a snow event.

To qualify for the program, the family must live in Westfield and identify as city public safety personnel on a service-related disability or immediate family of military personnel serving in a branch of our country’s armed forces and currently deployed out of state. The household is eligible for the program for the duration of deployment.

The Westfield Board of Public Work & Safety will manage the application process and administer the program. Businesses and organizations interested in becoming a partner of the Westfield Hometown Hero Program should email Public Works Director Jeremy Lollar at jlollar@westfield.in.gov.

All families that meet program requirements are encouraged to apply. Click here to access the application.