The James Biever Police-Community Alliance, in conjunction with local police departments from Lebanon County, will hold its fourth annual Cram-A-Cruiser food drive to benefit the Lebanon County Christian Ministries Food Pantry this Saturday, May 16, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Grocery Outlet, 1301 Quentin Road, Lebanon.
The public is invited to donate nonperishable food items and meet local law enforcement officers. This year’s event will feature live broadcasting from Froggy 100.1 with Nancy and Newman.
The Cram-A-Cruiser collection drive provides an opportunity for the Police-Community Alliance, local police departments, and the Lebanon County community to support residents who lack access to basic necessities.
An increasing number of individuals and families in Lebanon County are experiencing food insecurity due to rising costs of goods, limited incomes, and reduced access to services amid declining government funding, a release says. The U.S. Department of Agriculture defines food insecurity as “a lack of consistent access to enough food for an active, healthy life.”
According to the Central Pennsylvania Food Bank’s Hunger Mapping Report, “One in ten (9.8%) Lebanon County residents experiences food insecurity, and a similar proportion (9.7%) visited a food pantry in the last year. In total, nearly 14,000 individuals in the county are impacted by food insecurity and the charitable food network’s response to it.”
The report says Lebanon city has more than 4,300 food-insecure individuals, each with access to only one pantry within a 15-minute walk. Also, 1,750 food-insecure individuals in the western half of the city have access to just two pantries within a 15-minute drive. Child food insecurity in Lebanon County is particularly acute, with children 71% more likely to experience food insecurity than adults.
“This event is a great example of what can happen when law enforcement and the community come together for a common cause,” said alliance president Michelle Biever. “Not only are we helping stock the shelves at LCCM, but we’re also creating positive opportunities for residents to connect with their local officers.”
Last year’s event collected 2,100 pounds of nonperishable items from LCCM’s wish list, surpassing the 1,800 pounds gathered at the inaugural Cram-A-Cruiser event. Requested items include rice, canned soups, pasta, canned meats, canned fruit, pasta sauce, toilet paper, and toothpaste.
A complete list of needed items can be found online.
Nonperishable items can also be dropped off at the following police stations during daytime office hours: South Lebanon Police Department at 1800 S. 5th Ave., Lebanon County Regional Police Department at 725 Kimmerlings Road or 320 S. 18th St., and Western Lebanon County Regional Police Department at 325 S. Railroad St., Palmyra.
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