Food drive held in Westmoreland County to honor fallen police officers
Two food banks in Westmoreland County collected nonperishable food to honor three local fallen police officers.
Members of the St. Margaret Mary Food Bank and Westmoreland County Food Bank were joined by volunteers and active and retired police officers to collect food on Saturday.
PHOTOS: Food drive held in Westmoreland County to honor fallen police officers
The volunteers gathered at Mogie’s Irish Pub in Lower Burrell.
Terry McClain and Leslie Uncapher Zellers from Allegheny Township organized the event. They said it is designed to replenish the food banks that are hit hard during the holiday season and to pay tribute to fallen officers.
The event specifically honors Lower Burrell officer Derek Kotecki, New Kensington Officer Brian Shaw and Brackenridge Chief Justin McIntire.
“We recognize the importance of our law enforcement officers who do so much to protect and serve our communities,” they said. “We decided to have the food drive in memory of Officer Derek Kotecki and Officer Brian Shaw to honor them and all our law enforcement officers. We have received the blessing of Chief McIntire’s family to add his name and badge number to the Fallen Officers Food Drive as well.”
Officers and volunteers load the food into a truck, provided by U-Haul, to be transported to its next destination. T-shirts honoring the officers were sold and cash donations were also accepted.
David “Mogie” Magil, the owner of the pub where the event is held, said he hopes the event also strikes a chord with community members.
“The food drive shows that local law enforcement and people who support them care about the community,” Magill said.
Download the FREE WPXI News app for breaking news alerts.
Follow Channel 11 News on Facebook and Twitter. | Watch WPXI NOW
TRENDING NOW:
Man found shot to death in Pittsburgh’s Elliott neighborhood identified as missing McKeesport man Alabama police ID ‘Baby Jane Doe’ found slain in 2012, arrest father, stepmom Jay Leno breaks bones in motorcycle crash months after garage fire VIDEO:Maryland man facing DUI charges after allegedly causing crash in Beaver County DOWNLOAD the Channel 11 News app for breaking news alerts
