Photo courtesy of KIWANIS CLUB
Lewistown Police Department Chief Chris Clemens, Lewistown Mayor Deb Bargo, Lewistown Kiwanian Brett Rogers and LUMINA Center Program Director Valerie Adams stand at the Giant Food Store in Lewistown during the 2024 Fill-A-Cruiser event.

LEWISTOWN — The Lewistown Police Department is turning on the lights for a brighter cause – bringing joy to needy families through its annual Fill-a-Cruiser For Hunger Food Drive.

By partnering with the Kiwanis Club of Lewistown, Lewistown Police Chief David Clemens hopes to deliver holiday smiles to families across the community. Each year, this drive provides food for dozens of families in need.

“It’s been successful every year,” Clemens said. “Usually, we have a good turnout. People are always generous in donating, and we appreciate it.”

Those who want to donate can stop by the Giant Food Store in Lewistown, located at 200 S. Dorcas St., from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. today with any non-perishable food items or monetary donations. Donations will be delivered to the LUMINA Center and Mother Hubbard’s Cupboard, both located in Lewistown.

“We’ve been doing this for a long time,” Clemens added. “It’s been the last seven or eight years that I’ve been involved with it. It’s a good event for the public to contribute for people who are less fortunate.”

And what better place to hold a food drive than in a grocery store parking lot.

Clemens is hoping that Giant shoppers will pick up a few extra items — other than what is on their shopping list — while in the store to donate.

The goal is to fill the police cruiser to capacity with essential donations to bolster the resources of both agencies in order to help those in need. Previously, members of the community and school students donated enough food to fill four of the department’s cruisers.

“I think we filled at least three last year,” Clemens said. “It’s usually a pretty good event every year. The community is usually very generous, and we appreciate it. We do it to try and help out this time of year.”

Sherri Bickert, executive director of the LUMINA Center, said the Fill-A-Cruiser event is “the biggest donation we get food-wise.” The items are used to fill Power Packs for Lewistown Elementary School students, free community meals and to stock the pantry shelves.

Josie Baughman, secretary for the Lewistown Kiwanis, said the club enjoys doing hands-on service and likes to partner with local organizations when possible.

“The Fill-A-Cruiser event is a great opportunity to provide help to the Lewistown Police Department, who may not be able to spare the officers to collect the food donations throughout the day, while helping to fill the pantries at Mother Hubbard’s Cupboard and the Salvation Army,” Baughman explained. “The record is four cruisers, I believe. It would be nice to surpass that mark, especially with so many people needing food assistance.”

For more information, find the Lewistown Police Department on Facebook.