One in seven Kansans struggle with hunger.
Yet, police officers are working to combat the problem this week.
The Andover Police Department is working to fill up police cruisers with non-perishable items for the Andover Food Bank.
Typically, November and December are busy months for food banks because of school-contributed drives to help supplies, said Andover Police Det. Natasha Ward.
“Right now, the pantries are rather sparse and it’s important to us,” she said. “Especially at this time, to help with the donation and help get those pantries filled up again.”
According to the Kansas Food Bank, 215,300 people turned to food pantries and meal programs to feed their families. The number includes 68,900 children and 19,900 seniors.
FILL A CRUISER DRIVE
Cruisers will be collecting items from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 10, at the Dillon’s Store, located at 225 E. Cloud Ave. in Andover.
“It’s very important to me,” Ward said. “As a police officer, we have an opportunity to touch people in a lot of different ways, and we often times don’t get as many times to get to do this in a positive way. This allows us to give back to the community, incorporating our values that we have.”
MOST-NEEDED ITEMS
• Pork ’n’ Beans
• Macaroni and Cheese
• Cereal
• Soup
• Toothpaste
• Canned vegetables
• Baby items
• Basic toiletries
To find a food bank near you, click here.
To help the Andover Food Bank, click here.