Heights Community Fills Multiple Police Vehicles With Food

CLEVELAND HEIGHTS, OH — The Cleveland Heights community filled several police cruisers, and a van, with nonperishable foods and household items this weekend.

The Fill the Cruiser food drive was held outside of Zagara's Marketplace on Saturday. The collected items will be donated to the Heights Emergency Food Center. Last year, police collected 803 pounds of food and other items for the Heights Emergency Food Center.

This year, Heights residents filled three police cruisers in the first hour of the food drive. "Reinforcements" were then called in and residents proceeded to fill another vehicle with more items.

"In addition to the cruisers we also filled a van so it looks like it was a great success and our residents did not disappoint. Such a great and generous community. Cleveland Heights strong!" Police Chief Annette Mecklenburg said after the event.

This year's event was led by Investigator Tyler Allen. He took charge of bringing the event to life last year and led Fill the Cruiser again in 2020. He was joined by Investigator Brian Ondercin and his K9 partner Dodo, and Officer Justin Weir and his K9 partner Rambo.

Patch has teamed with Feeding America to help raise awareness on behalf of the millions of Americans facing hunger. Feeding America, which supports 200 food banks across the country, estimates that in 2020, more than 50 million Americans will not have enough nutritious food to eat due to the effects of the coronavirus pandemic. This is a Patch social good project; Feeding America receives 100 percent of donations. Find out how you can donate in your community or find a food pantry near you.