Soap sales raising funds

REARDAN - A small soap business here is raising funds this season to equip law enforcement with specialized safety lights designed to protect officers on busy roadways.

The project headed by business owner Tammy Merrill has already exceeded its goal of buying 21 lights, including providing lights for officers in the Town of Reardan.

Merrill decided to start a project to buy "Guardian Angel Devices" for officers in Arizona in honor of her father in law.

"I make soap and have a small business here on my farm in Reardan. During the month of November I've been donating all profits to buy Guardian Angel Devices for law enforcement officers in honor of my husband's father who was killed by a passing rig during a routine traffic stop when my husband was four," Merrill shared.

"So far this month, we've equipped the 17 officers that currently patrol the same area my husband's father did."

Merrill said the Guardian Angel devices, which are waterproof and provide bright roadside lighting for officers, cost approximately $125 each, or the financial equivalent of 19 bars of soap from Merrill's store.

Merrill shared her project on Facebook, asking people to help with the effort.

"Five dollars from every bar sold goes to buy these safety lights and I need to sell just 50 more to meet this goal," she shared last week.

As of press time, Merrill reported she had raised the money for 21 lights, including four for the Town of Reardan police department.

Merrill said the support from the community has been encouraging and she is now looking to other outlets, including the Washington State Troopers who may need support.

Merrill's soaps are made with natural colorants (clays or infusions), local lard, milk from Merrill's own goats or aloe juice and "the occasional beer."