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The New Jersey Police Chief Magazine | March 2021
“ We get about 30,000 to 40,000 pounds of food from Cram the Cruiser and it ’ s out [ to the community ] within a few weeks ,” Norvit said . The all volunteer organization supports 30 food pantries in the county and seven school districts . They provide blizzard bags to the Community Kitchen , weekend bags for children to have food while not in school , provide food for “ COVID home delivery ” and feed hundreds of people who need to eat .
“ Every penny goes to purchase food in the county ,” Norvit said thanking them for their help eradicating food insecurity in the county .
Richards divided his third for the funds raised between the Center for Prevention and Counseling ’ s CLEAR program and the Sussex County Fairgrounds .
Becky Carlson accepted the check for the CLEAR program , something Richards helped get off the ground . “ Late in 2015 with overdoses on the rise ,” they got together and created the program that has changed the dynamic of how people with addiction are handled in the county , and a “ complete shift of how people think about police ,” Richards said .
Richards , in his remarks to the group , admitted it was Carlson and the CLEAR program that kept him in the job longer than he planned . “ I had my 25 years in 2015 but this is part of what kept me in ,” Richards said . Carlson agreed , the mission of their programs is what keeps her from retiring as well .
The second part of his donation is going to renovate the Richards Building at the fairgrounds . “ You wouldn ’ t think the Richards Building renovations would have been that important but its because of that building we have been able to have the drive thru COVID-19 inoculation center ."
“ It was named for my grandfather , built about 45 years ago ,” Richards said . His grandfather organized exhibitors including “ granges and honey bees , art work and quilt making ” in the 12,000 square foot building that is the largest in the county currently serving as the drive through location for inoculations .
JC Cowell , member of the Executive Board of the Sussex County Fairgrounds , a 501 ( c ) 3 , accepted the check from Richards .
“ The fairgrounds does a lot of work for other not for profits ,” Cowell said . He spoke about the power companies using it as a staging ground after the big storms and " numerous things to do with COVID ."
" We do a lot of stuff for a lot of people ," Cowell said . “ It ’ s not small potatoes .”
“ It ’ s been an honor to be a member of this association and we all will look forward to supporting our fellow chiefs in the important work of leading law enforcement here in Sussex County ,” Richards said .
Spidaletto said Steve and Rachel Scro are what was behind this event . “ They are complete givers ,” Spidaletto said . “ He is creative with his ideas and is all about giving and we are fortunate to have him as a friend and in our community and this county .”
“ They were so successful at what they did in their careers , dealing with challenges ,” Scro said . “ It ’ s important to know how much they do . They didn ’ t want the recognition but they wanted to continue to give back .”
( From left to right ) Chief Richards , Sussex County President Spidaletto , Steve Scro / Host and owner of the Mohawk House , Chief Alemy , and Chief Zabita
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