Last updated on November 14th, 2016 at 01:43 pm
Hy-Vee customers generously showed their respect and gratitude to slain Urbandale Police Officer Justin Martin and Des Moines Police Sgt. Anthony Beminio by donating nearly $140,000 to their families during a four-day period in November. Hy-Vee sent out a thank-you message to its customers on Nov. 10.
Following the officers’ fatal shootings the previous week, Hy-Vee Chairman, CEO and President Randy Edeker announced that all Des Moines-area Hy-Vee stores would collect customers’ donations to benefit the fallen police officers’ families. To supplement customers’ donations, Hy-Vee gave $25,000 to each officer’s family.
In total, customers dropped off $138,318 at Des Moines-area Hy-Vee stores from Wednesday, Nov. 2, through Sunday, Nov. 6. On Nov. 10, Hy-Vee delivered two checks totaling nearly $190,000 to the Des Moines Police Officers’ Credit Union, which will divide the money equally and deposit it into funds established for Officer Martin and Sgt. Beminio’s families.
Hy-Vee set up collection tables at the entrances of its stores in an effort to bring the community together. Hy-Vee employees accepted customer donations at the tables from 8 a.m.-8 p.m. Outside of those hours, stores continued to accept donations at the customer service counter.
“Whenever tragedy strikes in one of our communities, we instinctively look to our law enforcement partners to pull us together and help us heal,” Edeker said when announcing the donation efforts. “When tragedy—especially such an unimaginable act as this—befalls those who protect us, we want to emulate their response, show compassion and help in any way that we can.”
Martin, a 24-year-old rookie officer in the Des Moines suburb of Urbandale, and Beminio, 38, were fatally shot just minutes apart in ambush-style attacks, according to reports. An Urbandale man has been charged with first-degree murder in both killings. Funerals for the officers were held this week.
West Des Moines, Iowa-based Hy-Vee Inc. is an employee-owned corporation operating more than 240 retail stores across eight Midwestern states with sales of $9.3 billion annually.
