HOOVER – The Hoover City Council at its meeting on Tuesday, Sept. 3, received updates on two of the city’s charitable organizations.

Local students John Cox and Chloe Bishop presented updates on Hoover Helps and Neighborhood Bridges, respectively.

Cox, a student at Hoover High School and intern at Hoover Helps, said the organization works with 16 partner organizations in the city.

Donations to Hoover Helps represent $113,000 in food that benefits Hoover children, Cox said.

He added that 494 children were receiving support in some way through backpack programs at the end of the last school year.

Hoover Helps has facilitated $12,000 for summer feeding initiatives, $7,000 for other initiaties, $6,000 for backpack feeding programs, $5,000 for families in crisis, $3,000 for feeding programs and $1,500 for food pantries.

“I can’t tell you how much working with Hoover Helps and seeing the children and people this organization has helped has made me realize what a great city we live in,” Cox said.

Bishop, meanwhile, said Neighborhood Bridges has grown to include 927 subscribers since its inception in January.

“Since then, Hoover has proven what a great place it is to live in and is filled with a bunch of amazing people,” Bishop said.

The organization provides a platform for Hoover City Schools officials to share needs with a network of benefactors.

Most needs are filled in minutes, Bishop said.

Neighborhood Bridges in Hoover has seen 161 needs posted in 209 days, with 256 donations benefitting 974 children.

The Council also decided to help cover expenses related to training at the FBI National Academy for one of its police officers.

Hoover Police Department Captain McDuffy will attend the academy Oct. 7 through Dec. 20 and will incur costs of travel and expenses in connection with the training, according to a resolution approved by the Council.

The city will provide $4,000 to defray those expenses.

McDuffey will present an itemized statement of expenses upon his return.

Hoover will reimburse McDuffey for any expenses incurred beyond the amount approved, or McDuffey will reimburse the city should expenses not reach the $4,000 amount.