Linda Lawrey’s generosity for people and animals was honored when she was named the Citizen of the Year for 2021 by the Martinsville Police Department.
Martinsville City Police Chief Eddie Cassady made the announcement at Tuesday’s meeting of Martinsville City Council. He noted that for many years, the police department has recognized city residents that have exemplified outstanding service, patriotism, and kindness to the city as a whole.
Lawrey “has gone out of her way on numerous occasions to not only keep our officers safe but also to help our animals that go through our animal shelter,” the chief said.
“During the early days and through the height of the COVID-19 pandemic, (Lawrey) went to great lengths to donate masks, gloves, face shields, and sanitizers for our officers. Even as store shelves were empty and distributors indicated they were out of stock, Linda would somehow find a way to acquire boxes of personal protective equipment to make certain that our officers had a regular supply,” Cassady said.
Lawrey’s generosity extended to the animals at the Martinsville City Animal Shelter, Cassady said. She came up with the idea of creating an Amazon wish list to allow community members to help with the shelter’s needs.
Animal Control Officer Jamie Clark noticed that Lawrey was donating nearly everything on the list. “She also started a pet food donation box at our local pet store,” he said, which has been “an incredible help” in feeding the animals kept at the shelter.
“Her generosity in caring for the safety of our officers, as well as her kindness and love for animals in our animal shelter, is why we recognize her as the 2021 Martinsville Police Department Citizen of the Year.”
“I appreciate (the award) and thank everyone for their service,” Lawrey said, noting the last few years have been tough on everyone due to the pandemic, including police, fire, and EMS crews. “And it’s been tough on the animals,” she added.
