The Munster Police department will soon have another asset to help them serve residents. On February 25th The Munster Junior Woman’s Club helped to pack 313 Taproom for a fundraiser to provide sensory bags that will enable first responders to better serve children and adults with autism and special needs. Their successful event allowed them to raise money to provide a Ben’s Blue Bag for each Munster patrol car as well as specialized training for Munster PD and first responders.
Munsterites filled 313 Taproom to support the cause and enjoy food, drinks and good company.
Inspiration for the program came from a local Dyer organization called Logan’s Love, which has helped other towns in Northwest Indiana get sensory bags for their departments with the help of Ben’s Blue Bags, started by Matt Kodicek from the Crown Point Fire Department. “We had a speaker from Logan’s Love tell us about their program with Ben’s Blue Bags and so Munster Juniors reached out to Lieutenant Kodicek and Officer Ghrist to see how we can make this happen in Munster,” Jennifer Fane, Munster Junior Woman’s Club member and event organizer said. “People saw the need for this so we had a great turnout.”
Officer Ghrist displays a Ben’s Blue Bag. Every patrol car will now be equipped with the sensory bags to better serve people with autism or special needs.
Lieutenant Kodicek saw the need for a program tailored for autism first hand during his job as a paramedic and as a father of a child on the spectrum. “I was going on calls on the ambulance in Crown Point and St. John and saw different cases with kids on the spectrum who were having a hard time and we really didn’t have any materials to help them,” Kodicek explained. “There was an autism training that was a bit outdated and it inspired me to put together not only the sensory bags but also an updated presentation.”
Kodicek developed the presentation program by getting feedback and beta testing with some initial fire departments. When first responders would ask questions about characteristics or preferences of children with autism he would add those to his presentation. “It really opened my eyes that every person on the spectrum is slightly different.” Kodicek stated. “And it helped me understand my son, Ben, even more about what things come easy for him and what other things are more difficult.”
Kodicek believes a resource like Ben’s Blue Bags can save departments human resources. An officer who is better prepared to work with a child with autism or special needs may not have to call in an ambulance or an additional officer to help deescalate or calm down a situation. “I think these bags and the program presentation will help them better serve the citizens in the Town of Munster. They’ll be more prepared when they do have an encounter with someone on the autism spectrum or with special needs.”
The successful event was made possible with the help of sponsors 313 Taproom, John’s Pizzeria, Miss Print, Tradewinds Services, Inc. and Carpathia Polish Delicatessen. Eli & Abner provided music for the event.
