– Photo courtesy of JPRO
The Lebanon Elks Lodge 635 announced the 2023-2024 Citizen of the Year as the founder of a local Zionsville organization that dedicates funds to improve the lives of law enforcement officers and their families.
The Lebanon Elks Lodge 635 awarded Jennifer Pickett, founder of Jacob Pickett Response Organization, with the Citizen of the Year award for the organization’s work in Boone County and across the state with helping law enforcement. In four years, the organization has reportedly helped 15 families by giving $76,000 to law enforcement families.
“This award is reflective of the amazing team of volunteers Jen has behind her and the community donors allowing us to help each family that comes to us for help,” the organization released.
The organization was founded in honor of Jacob Pickett, who was described as a man who loved his law enforcement family and geared up to volunteer to help his brothers and sisters in need. After his story ended tragically in March 2018, the organization established itself as a not-for-profit dedicated in his honor to give back to those who showed an outpouring of support for his family, including the community and law enforcement personnel.
“Tragedy, though, strikes the extended law enforcement family in many different way,” the organization has released. “Often, there are no official ways families can get immediate short term and/or sustained financial support for those families.”
The organization strives to maintain a means for law enforcement families to receive the financial aid they may need if a tragedy occurs, which could include a variety of different scenarios that the organization has noted.
“Unconventional tragedies like a spouse’s devastating diagnosis, a sick child, a tragic accident or a mental health crisis can be devastating,” the organization has released. “Some require creative responses when no other help is available. We count on our law enforcement members every day. They should be able to count on us in their times of need.
For more information about Jacob Pickett Response Organization, visit remembering626.org.