BAZETTA - Township police aren't just filling a cruiser with food to be donated to a local food bank.
They're filling three, and judging from the amount of food and donations they were collecting Saturday at the Walmart off Elm Road, Detective Sgt. Joe Sofchek said they could even use more cruisers.
Officers and other volunteers were at the entrances to the store taking food and cash. Within the first hour Saturday, they collected $500 in cash, Sofchek said.
The donations will go to the Cortland Area Cares food bank. Donna Kittle, who heads up the food bank, said the donations allow them to stretch their dollars and purchase more food for people.
''Donations are huge at this time of year,'' Kittle said.
She said the food bank also received a school bus load of food Friday from the junior and senior Beta clubs at Lakeview High School as well as from students at the middle school.
Students also helped by sorting the food, Kittle said.
Kittle said it humbles her that even though the economy has been rough, people will give either food or money to the food bank.
''I'm sure no one has lots of extra cash,'' Kittle said.
Sofchek said the department began the food drive three years ago as a way to help the food bank.
He said the department will take donations up through the holidays. People can drop off items at the police department, Sofchek said.
Additional donations will be accepted at the township police department.