HOLLAND (WHTC-AM/FM) — Despite the limits imposed to limit COVID-19’s spread, Ottawa County Sheriff’s officials successfully pulled off their annual Shop with the Sheriff and Cram the Cruiser events.
Ottawa County Sheriff’ Steve Kempker called it an “overwhelming success,” adding the COVID twist meant making Shop with Santa a drive-through event, with personal deliveries to students and their families.
Deputies made gift-card deliveries to families in need in Grand Haven and Jenison — and this year, Kempker said, they gave more the families dealing with COVID, with cards valued at between $300 and $500, depending on each family’s size.
School district officials helped police, by identifying families that needed help. Sheriff’s officials help 50 students in Hudsonville; 48 in Jenison; and 31 in the Grand Haven area. In all, stores donated a total of $20,500 to the program:
- Grand Haven Wal Mart $2,500
- Grand Haven Meijer $7,500
- Jenison Meijer $5,000
- Jamestown Meijer $5,000
On Saturday , Dec. 19, 2020, Zeeland Family Fare hosted the second annual Cram the Cruiser event, a partnership of Ottawa County Sheriff’s Office, Zeeland Police Department and Family Fare. Together they collected $1,836.00 and 5,119 pounds of food plus four shopping carts of toys for the Zeeland-based His Harvest Stand.
“I am proud of our staff that participate and give their time to these events each year to help out needy families in Ottawa County,” Kempker said. “I also commend the Meijer Corporation and Walmart for their generous giving back to the community, and allowing the deputies of the Ottawa County Sheriff’s Office and local school districts to be involved. We also thank all the community member who donated this year.”
