Members of Mentor safety forces are committed to the well-being of our community. That commitment goes beyond simply doing their duty. They understand the importance of engaging with residents and maintaining good rapport; whether it’s passing out candy on Halloween, reading to children at the Mentor Public Library, conducting K9 demos at our schools, or issuing safety citations for safe biking habits.
More importantly, they also donate their time and effort to help those in need.
This past December, members of the Mentor Fire Department and their families once again braved the elements for the 27th year to collect food and cash during their Rescue the Needy food drive. The 2023 Rescue the Needy event is scheduled for December 8 and 9, 2023.
100% of proceeds from the event directly benefit the Salvation Army Painesville Corps which serves Lake County. Donations stay in the community in which they are received to help serve those most in need. Since 1994, over $150,000 in cash and food donations have been raised.
For the past nine years, Mentor Police have collected nonperishable food items and cash donations at their annual Fill-a-Cruiser event. Donations are distributed to food pantries to benefit families in Mentor. Over the years, 22 police vehicles have been filled with food and nearly $17,000 has been raised. The 2023 Fill-a-Cruiser event is scheduled for Sunday, November 12, 2023.
Since 1983, the Kops N Kids program has provided a fun-filled evening complete with dinner, entertainment, and holiday gifts for kids in need. Families are identified with the help of Mentor Public Schools, the Mentor Victim Assistance Program as well as by police officers themselves.
For the past several years, the “Shop with a Cop” program has also helped kids in need and has provided an opportunity to spend valuable one-on-one time.
None of these efforts would be successful with the support of residents, organizations, and businesses, that have helped our safety forces help those in our community.