THE APEX TIMES
Lee’s Famous Recipe Chicken to hold Thursday fundraiser for Lexington police officer injured in April traffic stop
The Richmond Road location of Lee’s Famous Recipe Chicken said it will donate 20% of sales to Officer Kevin Van Wert to support his medical expenses and help his family after an April traffic stop injury.
A Lexington police officer who was injured in an April traffic stop is set to receive community-backed financial support through a fundraising event this Thursday at a local restaurant, according to WKYT.
Lee’s Famous Recipe Chicken, at its Richmond Road location in Lexington, announced it will donate 20% of sales generated during the event to Officer Kevin Van Wert. The money is intended to cover medical expenses and provide additional support for the officer’s family as he recovers from injuries sustained in the April incident, WKYT reported.
The fundraiser is tied to Officer Van Wert’s April traffic stop injury, WKYT said. The report did not provide additional incident details such as the nature of the stop, the severity of the injuries, or the course of treatment, and those specifics were not independently confirmed in the information provided.
WKYT said the fundraiser is organized around the restaurant’s sales on Thursday. Customers who patronize the Richmond Road location during the fundraiser window will contribute to the donation, the restaurant’s plan described in the report indicates.
The event reflects a common form of local, time-bound community fundraising for first responders, where participating businesses direct a defined share of revenue toward an individual or family facing medical and recovery-related costs.
As the Thursday fundraiser approaches, the practical impact will depend on the number of customers who visit the Richmond Road location and the total sales generated during the event period, since the donation is stated as a percentage of sales. Any final donation total would be expected to be calculated after the fundraiser concludes.
WKYT’s report did not indicate whether the restaurant will require special vouchers, codes, or pre-registration for the sales to count toward the 20% donation. Residents planning to participate may need to follow any instructions posted by the restaurant or shared alongside the announcement.
Why It Matters
- The donation model links community spending directly to support for a public safety employee facing medical and family costs.
- Because the payment is based on a share of sales, the total impact will hinge on turnout and sales during the fundraiser period.
- The case highlights how local businesses can mobilize quickly for first responders without requiring public fundraising procedures.
- If the injuries from the April traffic stop continue to affect the officer’s financial situation, the fundraiser may help offset near-term recovery expenses.
- The event provides an immediate opportunity for residents to support local institutional service while maintaining the fundraiser’s defined, time-limited structure.
Key Facts
- Lee’s Famous Recipe Chicken’s Richmond Road location in Lexington is holding a fundraiser for Officer Kevin Van Wert.
- The restaurant will donate 20% of sales from the fundraiser day.
- WKYT reported the donation is intended to help cover Officer Van Wert’s medical expenses and support his family.
- The fundraiser is connected to injuries Officer Van Wert suffered in an April traffic stop.
- The fundraiser is scheduled for Thursday, July 2, 2026, the same day WKYT published the announcement.