WEST DEPTFORD TWP. — For years. the West Deptford  D.A.R.E. and PAL programs have been limping along on a Municipal Alliance-funded budget of $4,000 — barely enough to cover the skimpiest of programs.

They managed to run  not only D.A.R.E., but the Junior Police Academy, PAL fishing trips and a helmet safety reward program.

Now, thanks to a township business, the two programs have a new lease on life — and a budget of more than $30,000 to work with.

With the help of Special Operations Division Sgt. John Chambers, Police Chief Samuel DiSimone III drafted a letter they sent to businesses in West Deptford, asking for donations for the youth programs. The letter outlined what programs have been conducted and what programs they’d like to start: a Police Explorers post, a holiday Shop with a Cop program, Fill-A-Cruiser Food Drive and a FamilyFun Day of Fishing.

Christian Highlander got the letter and liked what he saw. Highlander’s company, Timeshare Legal LLC, agreed to donate in response to the letter, writing a check for $30,000.

“The D.A.R.E. program means a lot to me,” Highlander said Monday. It’s important to “reach out to kids when they’re young.”

Shocked at the lack of funding the police programs had, “we decided to help.” The donation was large, Highlander said, “because they needed a lot of help.”

The West Deptford resident said he’d like it if his donation served as a sort of challenge to other businesses in the township.

“Sometimes I think the big corporations forget the community that supports them,” he said.

When the letter was sent, back in September, “we were hoping for a couple of thousand dollars,” said Chambers.

When Highlander announced his company’s donation, “We were floored,” Chambers said.

There were other donations made — DiSimone said other businesses have donated about $800.

“We’re going to be able to do things we haven’t even thought of,” said DiSimone.