Beatrice Police FOP Lodge holds 'Stuff the Cruiser' campaign

BEATRICE – A local law enforcement organization held its annual Christmas time donation campaign for needy children, on Sunday.

Fraternal Order of Police Lodge 84 of the Beatrice Police Department conducted their Stuff the Cruiser event outside the Beatrice Walmart Store.

Coordinator of the event, Beatrice Police Officer Brittney Ruh said it was humbling how quickly new items that were purchased in the store were donated.

"We have monetary donations. I haven't checked our Venmo, yet. We set up a Venmo this year so that the younger crowd is able to donate, because most younger people don't carry cash on them. We have toys, clothes, blankets...just anything people are willing to donate."

Beatrice Police had their mobile crime lab bus serving as the vehicle to accept donations, and also had the department’s response vehicle called the BEAST ….Beatrice Emergency Armored Service Truck… on display.

Ruh says the F-O-P will again team up with the Beatrice YMCA to distribute the donated items in early December. "December 7th, we are going to the YMCA and we are asking for volunteers to come and sort the toys....and then there's going to be a luncheon."

The Stuff the Cruiser event was held from eight to five on Sunday. A group of officers staffed the bus during Sunday’s end of thanksgiving weekend drive, the eighth year for Stuff the Cruiser. Several organizations will help the police lodge with the distribution on December 7th.