WMPD helps area food bank

Overwhelming success Officer Chester Fowler (back) organized WMPD's first annual food drive for the local FISH Food Bank. The drive gathered more than 1,300 lbs. of non-perishable food items in less than a week. Photo courtesy of WMPD/John Antretter

Pick-up AND delivery For the food drive, WMPD picked-up donations from dozens of drop-off locations across campus before delivering them to a local food bank. Event organizer, Officer Fowler (r)received wide-spread departmental support. On this pick-up he was aided by Sgt. Gary Ryan. Photo courtesy of WMPD/John Antretter

An annual affair This year's food drive was the inaugural event for what will became WMPD's annual James Greene Memorial Food Drive. Greene was a long-time member of the WMPD who passed away recently after a long battle with cancer. Photo courtesy WMPD/John Antretter

by Suzanne Seurattan | May 7, 2009

The William & Mary Police Department (WMPD) collected more than 1,300 lbs. of non-perishable food items for the local food bank FISH. Items for the drive were donated by members of the campus and local community over several days last week.

The idea for the food drive came from WMPD Officer Chester Fowler. Fowler was inspired by a local television news story about shortages in area food banks.

"We've all been blessed with jobs," Fowler said. "As law enforcement we are part of the community and we need to do something to give back."

Fowler noted he received support for the drive from both his department and the college's administration.

WMPD Police Chief Don Challis said Fowler deserved all the credit for the successful drive.

"He worked extraordinarily hard to make this happen," Challis said.

The police chief added he wasn't surprised by the effort. "That's the kind of people we have here at the WMPD."

The drive came together in just a few days, Fowler noted. Given the time frame he was especially pleased with the turn out.

"I was very surprised with the response to the drive for something put together at the last minute," Fowler said. "It worked out pretty well."

The 1300 lbs. of donations were delivered to the FISH pantry May 6. FISH is an ecumenical, community program with the mission to help feed and clothe the needy in the local community.

Fowler added that he plans to make the drive an annual event. Next year's drive, he said, would be named the James Greene Memorial Food Drive after fellow WMPD Officer James Greene who passed away last December after a long battle with cancer.