Staff Reports
The Bartholomew County Sheriff’s Department is bringing back its Pack-a-Patrol Car effort for the fifth year to gather non-perishable food and other items to help the less fortunate in the community.
Community residents are being asked to help in the effort, which begins Saturday and continues through Nov. 15.
Containers will be located in the lobby of the sheriff’s department at 543 Second St., where the public may drop off canned food and other non-perishable items. Collections boxes will also be located in the Bartholomew County Courthouse and the county’s governmental office building downtown.
Sheriff’s department employees will be collecting donations at 11 a.m. Saturday at the Ethnic Expo parade in downtown Columbus. Residents may hand their donations to sheriff’s department employees as the department’s parade units pass by.
Bartholomew County Sheriff Matt Myers will accept donations at Kroger Marketplace on Oct. 19 and Oct. 26 and shoppers are asked to pick up a few extra items to donate while shopping at the store.
The sheriff’s department is also asking county residents to assist by decorating a collection box and placing it where they work, at their school, gym or other gathering place, and then delivering the donations to the sheriff’s department no later than Nov. 15.
“This is a great way to support those in our community who need a little extra help around the holidays,” said Wendi Bartholomew, the department’s Pack-a-Patrol Car coordinator.
Columbus East High School senior Devon Reese is assisting with the Pack-a-Patrol car effort for his senior project.
Once items have been collected, deputies will “pack” a sheriff’s department patrol car with the donated items and deliver them to Love Chapel’s Food Pantry, 311 Center St., and also to the Salvation Army, 2525 Illinois Ave.
“I think anything we can do to help those who are less fortunate in Bartholomew County and to get people more familiar with law enforcement so they view us as their friend, is helpful,” Myers said.
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What: Fifth annual Pack-a-Patrol Car
When: Saturday through Nov. 15
Where: Donations containers are available at the Bartholomew County Sheriff’s Department, 543 Second St., the Bartholomew County Courthouse and the county Governmental Offices building in downtown Columbus.
What’s needed: Non-perishable food items to be donated to Love Chapel and the Salvation Army for the less fortunate in the community
Also: The sheriff’s department will be accepting donations during Saturday’s Ethnic Expo parade in downtown Columbus at 11 a.m.
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