Three Elizabeth officers receive afghans from online group

By Christine Haines

chaines@yourmvi.com

A Washington County woman wants police officers to know she has them covered — literally.

Three members of the Elizabeth Borough Police Department who contracted COVID-19 while on the job were the most recent recipients of crocheted throws from the nonprofit group Covering the Blue, which was started by Burgettstown native Diane Baughman Huggins.

“It’s nice to see that someone still appreciates the police,” said Elizabeth Borough Chief William Sombo.

A large box was delivered to the police station Friday containing three small afghans and a letter from Huggins.

“This cover was hand stitched especially for you Brave Officer by Diane Baughman Huggins … Founder of Covering the Blue on Facebook,” it read. “May you feel warmth from it, faith from the individual who made it and strength from those of us who support you and all law enforcement officers.”

Huggins heard about the three Elizabeth officers with COVID-19 on the news and was moved.

“It hit me, three officers sick and they had to shut down the police department,” she said. “I just wanted to get those three officers a cover.”

All three officers are back on the job, the first returning Friday evening, and all three have reached out to Huggins in thanks.

“I’m just overwhelmed at how overwhelmed these officers are,” Huggins said. “I’ve looked up in awe to the police officers and firefighters my whole life.”

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