Annual Law Enforcement Food Drive to be a Success

NEW CONCORD, Ohio – While the holiday season is typically a time to
gather with family and friends for a traditional yuletide feast, many
members of the community are in need of help when it comes to putting
food on the table. The Cambridge Post of the Ohio State Highway
Patrol teamed up with the New Concord Police Department this
afternoon for a food drive at Riesbeck’s Food Market to help those
in need across the area. Sergeant Jeff Dawson, with the New Concord
Police Department, says each year of the food drive brings better
results than the previous year.

“Being that it’s
our fifth year, so people know and they expect it coming this time of
year. So, every other year it’s just gotten a little bit better
and a little bit better—and that’s what we try to do; we try to
beat our numbers from the last year. It’s kind of like a
competition for us. All in all, it’s for a good cause.”

Bags containing full
meals for families in need were prepared and available for purchase
inside the store and Lieutenant Melanie Appleman, with the Ohio State
Highway Patrol, says this year’s food drive had the most promising
start ever with nearly 30 bags already donated upon the arrival of
law enforcement.

“We’re so
fortunate to have such a great community. Everybody likes to come
together and help each other out and just the conversations with
everyone—it’s just been really great. We’ve had a lot of kids
come up and they bring the bag and they hand it to us. It’s a great
time of year just to kind of give back and that spirit of giving—just
the spirit of community.”

The annual food
drive is taking place at Riesbeck’s Food Market in New Concord
until 7 PM this evening. All proceeds and donations will be taken to
the College Drive Presbyterian Church Food Pantry.