By Marla Jones, Managing Editor • marla@southerntorch.com

PHOTO PICTURED (L to R): Jill Dover (The Willow Tree employee), Kendra Caldwell (owner of The Willow Tree), Sylvania Police Chief Eric Tidmore, Derek Whisenant (Asst. VP/Loan Officer/Branch Manager at First State Bank), and Cory Caldwell (owner of The Willow Tree). 

HENAGAR, Ala. — After a recent Facebook post asking for donations for bulletproof vests for volunteer police officers, Assistant Vice President as well as Branch Manager and Loan Officer Derek Whisenant of First State Bank in Henagar and Cory & Kendra Caldwell of The Willow Tree joined forces to donate to the Sylvania Police Department. 

Willow Tree owner Cory Caldwell stated that "Each year, The Willow Tree has been donating to local programs [like] the police, school, etc., wherever a little assistance seems to be needed at the time. When hearing about what the Sylvania PD needed, we felt led to help. We agreed to split the amount with First State Bank." 

"[After Cory] contacted me and told me about Sylvania Police Department's need for vests, we were more than happy to help," said Whisenant. "Anytime that we (First State Bank) can help protect the folks that protect us, we want to be there for them."