Rome's, OPP help the Soup Kitchen (5 photos)

Saturday marked the annual Stuff a Cruiser food drive, held by the OPP and Rome’s Independent Grocer.

OPP auxiliary officers, three cruisers and a trailer were on hand outside the Great Northern Road grocery store between 10 a.m.and 3 p.m., as Rome’s customers gave donated food items to the officers, who later took them to the Sault Ste. Marie Soup Kitchen Community Centre for those in need.

The Stuff a Cruiser event, OPP Sgt. Monique Baker told SooToday, originated with Sgt. Ken Spahr of the Sault OPP auxiliary and has caught on with other detachments in communities across Ontario.

“Rome’s has been a great sponsor of this event every year,” said OPP auxiliary officer Ryan McLeod.

“If customers give cash, Rome’s goes in and buys more groceries with it.”

As of 1 p.m., one cruiser was stuffed and the trailer was well on its way to being filled. 

“We’re happy to help out any we can,” said Chris Rome, Rome’s Independent Grocer owner.

“A lot of people in our community need the help. It feels great to do this, especially at this time of year,” Rome said.