the OPP
Rainy River District OPP partnered with a number of community organizations to plan for the Rainy River District’s first-annual “Stuff a Cruiser” campaign.
On Saturday from 10 a.m.-4 p.m., OPP officers were located in Fort Frances and Emo as part of a district-wide initiative to help raise awareness as to how we can come together to help families in need this holiday season.
With the assistance of our policing partners from Treaty #3 Police, officers were on hand to help our communities “stuff a cruiser” with non-perishable food items at Canada Safeway, The Place, and Wal-Mart in Fort Frances and Cloverleaf Shop Easy Foods in Emo.
Collectively, district residents helped officers stuff 13 cruisers full of non-perishable food items in support of the Salvation Army, United Native Friendship Centre, Sunset Country Métis Association, Emo Food Bank, and the Fort Frances Volunteer Bureau’s community Christmas dinner.
The event was extremely well-received, with the first cruiser being unloaded for the first time by 11a.m.
“The event was a remarkable success and what an honour it was to be a part of something so positive and filled with community spirit,” said Fort Frances OPP Cst. Anne McCoy.
After the six-hour event wrapped up, all agencies reported their shelves were full and they have enough food to provide for families in need this holiday season.
But since the need for food does not end after the holidays, the OPP reminds community members to continue their support throughout the year.
The Rainy River District OPP has identified a need to continue to build awareness and intend to continue the “Stuff A Cruiser” program as an annual event.
“We look forward to supporting the agencies throughout the year, and plan to work together to keep the awareness level on the radar in the mind of our communities,” Cst. McCoy noted.
The OPP would like to thank the media and community volunteers for their assistance in making the “Stuff a Cruiser” program a huge success.
