ST. CLOUD -- The St. Cloud Police Department is working to create a non-profit foundation to help with community outreach, crime prevention and youth intervention programs.

One of the plans includes buying a distressed property in a neighborhood and opening it up for meetings, a welcome center and even a community garden. Commander Jim Steve says it's based off of a successful program in Racine, Wisconsin which has been in place for 20 years.  But, he says it is not a precinct house.  Steve says it would allow officers to have more of a presence in parts of the community that need it.

Steve says their current efforts are focused on seating a board of directors for the Greater St. Cloud Public Safety Foundation.  He says it's in the early stages of development and they hope to launch fundraising efforts in the coming months.

Steve says by having the foundation, it will allow them to directly take donations and work more closely with community partners.

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