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Community fills a cruiser with toys to help local families
By ELISE McKEOWN SKOLNICK
YOUNGSTOWN
Police lights drew people to the parking lot of St. Christine Church on South Schenley Avenue where cruisers were parked with their trunks open.
The plan was for members of the community to “Fill a Cruiser” with toys to help local families in need during the holiday season.
Officer George Wallace, an organizer of the event, said the Youngstown Police Department learned of two families with young children that could use some assistance with holiday gifts. And the “Fill a Cruiser” idea was born.
Wallace said it was a “last-minute idea” of the community’s police officers. It’s the first time they’ve had an event of this sort.
He also said he kept his expectations low so he wouldn’t be disappointed, but in just the first half-hour of the toy drive Saturday, members of the community filled more than two police-cruiser trunks. Others stopped to offer monetary donations.
“It definitely shows that a lot of people still care and want to give back and want to do great things,” Wallace said. “The turnout’s been awesome.”
The toy drive is meant to help two families. One family lost its mother earlier this year, and the other is a family with a grandmother as primary caregiver who was concerned she wouldn’t be able to provide Christmas gifts for her grandchildren this year.
However, Wallace said, if they receive enough donations, they will help others, as well.
Adam Froelich of Canfield brought his children to help fill the trunks.
“We wanted to support our local community and the police officers, and benefit the children who are receiving these gifts,” Froelich said.
The Froelich family is not new to helping others. They’ve also helped with food drives and more.
“We enjoy being able to give back this time of year,” Froelich said. “It feels good.”
They brought toys and candy canes, chosen by the two older Froelich children, Nolan, 9, and Brooke, 7. Their brother, Roman, is 1.
“They love it,” Froelich said. “They know exactly what to get.”
Brooke said she enjoyed helping, and wants to again.
Nolan said, “It was cool.”
He likes helping others because he likes “just being nice.”
Wallace said the community’s police officers would like to have the toy drive again next Christmas.
“This is something I would definitely like to do next year so we can give back to the community,” he said.