Those involved in the check presentation to benefit the Friends of the Saxonburg Police Thursday were, from left, Saxonburg Mayor Bill Gillespie; Melinda Berzonski, owner of Saxonburg Coffee & Tea; Saxonburg Police Chief Joe Beachem; Beverly Wogan from Peoples Gas; and Bill Hoche, Friends of the Saxonburg Police.

SAXONBURG — The latest beneficiary of the Peoples Gas Eat, Drink, Help program will put their donation toward making the borough safer.

The program partners with small, local businesses throughout the Peoples Gas service area who choose a charity for the program.

Peoples then donates money for every item sold at that business and presents the accumulated total to the charity chosen by the business.

Saxonburg Coffee & Tea chose Friends of the Saxonburg Police as its beneficiary in the program, and a check for $1,000 was presented to the organization on Thursday at the coffee shop.

The organization pays for training and supplemental equipment that enhance the capabilities of the police department without burdening taxpayers.

Saxonburg Mayor Bill Gillespie, who is on the Friends of the Police board and oversees the police department as mayor, said the money will go toward the specialized training the department's nine full-time and part-time police officers undergo at Makowski's Martial Arts & Fitness in Clinton Township.

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