An 'arresting' food drive for Newark Neighbours

The Niagara Regional Police ended their fourth annual Spring it Forward food drive with a table set up outside Phil’s Your Independent Grocer Thursday afternoon. 

Over four days starting Monday officers set up at 13 different grocery stores across the region collecting food and other donations in support of 10 Niagara food banks. During their six hours at Phil’s Constable Mike Malachowsky and Auxiliary Officer Kenneth Ferguson were collecting donations for Newark Neighbours. By 11 a.m. the two large barrels at both ends were filled to the brim with groceries. 

The annual food drive is an initiative of the NRPS Community Oriented Response and Engagement Unit (CORE). Over the first three years, 51,044 pounds of food and $35,113 in cash and gift cards have been received from members of the public and businesses.

Police Chief Bill Fordy told The Local recently that Spring it Forward is always a part of Police Week, which also was this week. 

“We work with all of the different service providers across the region,” Fordy said. “The food drive gives us an opportunity to give back and stand beside some of the people who are working with those who may have challenges and pressures that others don’t have.”

Besides Newark Neighbours, Welland’s Hope Centre, Pelham Cares, Project Share in Niagara Falls, Fort Erie’s Salvation Army, Port Cares, the Grimsby Benevolent Fund, and Community Care in St. Catharines-Thorold, West Lincoln and West Niagara all benefited from this week’s efforts. 

Following the collection in Virgil there was a Police Week open house at the Pen Centre, with demonstrations from various units of the NRPS.