Record Number Of Patrol Cars Filled With Food In Horsham

HORSHAM TOWNSHIP, PA — It was Car No. 8 all packed with food and heading to the St. Vincent De Paul Food Bank.

During its annual Pack The Patrol Car event at Horsham Giant, several Horsham Township Police Department organizers wondered whether they could reach at least 20 cars for needed food donations. Last year, 25 patrol cars were packed with donations.

But conditions were different this year.

The weather was cold with a snowstorm coming. Meanwhile, the fire department was holding a similar fundraiser just miles away. And some wondered if economic troubles meant that people didn't even have enough food for themselves.

But residents delivered. By the event's end, 26 patrol cars had been filled.

The food drive netted 26 SUVs worth of non-perishable food along, with a dozen ham certificates for the St. Vincent De Paul Food Bank.

"We want to thank all of you who donated food or handed us money or gift cards to shop on your behalf," Horsham Community Police Services. "All of the wonderful young Boy Scouts that you saw at the entrance helping to load the food into the patrol cars, and those on the other end unloading."

Horsham ChATs thanked the Horsham Giant and all the St. Vincent De Paul volunteers, who had to help unload, process, and inventory all the donations, and Police Chief Scott Fida, and the Horsham Police command staff.

Horsham ChATs especially singled out Andrea Kelly.

For many years now, Kelly has overseen the event.

"She has coordinated all the details and worked tirelessly to make Pack the Patrol Car our single most successful philanthropic event of the year. On behalf of all of us here in Community Police Services, please join me us thanking Andrea for all her hard work on this amazing event," Horsham ChATs said.

(Dino Ciliberti/Patch)