PENDLETON — A group of Pendleton business owners donated $8,800 for the purchase of a backup power generator for Pendleton Police Department.

“This is for all the police officers and for the community to be safe,” said Julie Schnepp, who led the effort and co-owns RE/MAX Legacy with husband Tim.

A check was presented to PPD Chief Marc Farrer on Friday at the Schnepps’ office in Pendleton.

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Schnepp said 14 local businesses donated to the effort, which meets a need exposed after the tornado struck town on Memorial Day; after the storm, the police department was without power for several days.

“There’s just so much genuine love and support for this community,” Schnepp said. “Not one person I asked to support this cause said no. It was really cool.”

Farrer said a generator will be a welcome addition to the station, located at 550 N. Pendleton Ave.

“We’re a 24-hour public safety building. In situations where the power’s out for an extended period of time, like with the tornado, this building becomes just a shell.”

In such cases, the new generator will allow the station to “run just as we are now,” Farrer said.