Valparaiso’s Finest Serve for G.R.E.A.T. Fundraiser at Kelsey’s Steak House

Imagine a night out with friends and family at your local restaurant with great food, excellent service, and superb staff. Now, add the Valparaiso Police Department as your waiters for a night filled with great fun. On Thursday, February 17th, 2011, Valparaiso police officers and civilian staff joined waitresses at Kelsey’s Steak and Seafood Restaurant to serve dinner to Kelsey’s patrons. The joint effort between the Valparaiso Police Department and Kelsey’s Restaurant was an event to raise awareness and funds for the G.R.E.A.T. (Gang Resistance Education And Training) program in the Porter County schools.

The management at Kelsey’s diligently trained the officers to provide outstanding service, and in return customers tipped the officers. In one night the officers collected just over $2,000, all of which was donated to support the G.R.E.A.T. program.

The G.R.E.A.T. Program is a school-based, law enforcement instructed, classroom curriculum. The program’s primary objective is prevention as an immunization against delinquency, youth violence, & gang membership. The G.R.E.A.T. lessons focus on providing life skills to students to help them to avoid delinquent behavior & violence to solve problems.

G.R.E.A.T. offers a variety of components for students & families. Since its conception in 1991 over 8,000 law enforcement officers nationwide have been certified as a G.R.E.A.T. instructor and more that 4 million students have graduated from the G.R.E.A.T. program. For more information visit www.great-online.org.

Valparaiso Police Department Sergeant Steve Jackson, the officer who manages GREAT, told ValpoLife.com, “I would like to thank Ken and his staff at Kelsey’s who were awesome to support this event. Valparaiso and the surrounding communities really came out to help and we appreciate their support. This [funds] will help tremendously and will benefit us this year and allow us to add new opportunities in the future.”

Check out photos from the event!