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Crime & Safety

Fallen Officers Food Drive Surpasses Last Year's Donations In Just One Day

More than 26,000 pounds of food collected as surviving family members of the four slain officers take to the front lines outside the Lakewood Police Department.

Not everyone who stopped by the Tuesday personally knew Sgt. Mark Renninger and Officers Ronnie Owens, Greg Richards and Tina Griswold. But out on the front lines of the , there were family members with memories to share and hearts that slowly continue to mend.

“The feeling that you get when you give to somebody – it’s hard to explain,” said Renninger’s wife, Kim, one of the event’s co-chairs. “It’s just a really good feeling being out here and seeing everyone donate and that makes me feel really good inside – and that is exactly what I wanted to feel today.”

A steady stream of cars continued to pull up outside the police station with boxes, bags, checks and cash a half-hour before the end of the first day of the second annual food drive. People were there to honor the four Lakewood Police officers who were murdered two years ago while sitting in a Parkland coffee shop.

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By day’s end, the food collection had already surpassed last year’s total of about 26,000 pounds — and the event continues through Monday. The ultimate goal is to collect 50,000 pounds of food and $50,000 for Lakewood-based Emergency Food Network, which distributes 14 million pounds of food annually to the 67 food banks, shelters and meal sites under its umbrella.

“I think we’ve met our goals in other ways even if we don’t meet the numbers,” said food drive co-chair Cindy Salazar, the wife of Lakewood Police Chief Bret Farrar and the event’s creator. “It’s a good feeling.

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“It’s been an amazing day, and I think it’s been a nice diversion for some of the families, (which) was part of the goal.”

With little regard for the cold weather, Renninger spent from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. outside the police station accepting donations – and hugs from the people her husband proudly served.

“It makes me feel good that people care enough to come out and donate,” she said. “As far as I’m concerned, it’s a huge success.”

Throughout the day, Renninger was joined by other surviving family members, including Griswold’s husband, Richards’ mother and daughter and Owens’ sister. Also in attendance were Lisa Mundell, the widow of Pierce County Sheriff’s Deputy Kent Mundell Jr., who was killed in the line of duty less than a month after the Lakewood officers, and Vanessa Walsh, whose husband, Federal Way Police Officer Brian Walsh, died of a heart attack while on duty in March 2010.

“This is something to focus on – giving back to the community,” Farrar said. “People who are showing up here see Kim or some of the other surviving family members of other officers who were killed in the line of duty, and I think it does their hearts good to see them flourishing.

“You never move on, but you do move forward.”

Farrar said his department took an active interest in the food drive, and many officers came out to collect donations throughout the day.

Although the food drive is only scheduled through Monday, Farrar said he has no problem leaving the big green bins out as long as donations are coming in. Last year, the weeklong event unexpectedly stretched into the beginning of February.

“Hey,” he said, “as long as people are bringing food, I’ll leave them out there, and we’ll feed the hungry.”

Among those feeding the hungry on Tuesday were individuals with truckloads of nonperishables, several local businesses and Costco. Donations were so bountiful at the Forza Coffee in Parkland where the four officers were killed that employees kept having to bring food over.

Salazar said that among the day’s most heartwarming moments was a 4-year-old girl bringing her birthday money to donate to the food drive.

And there was one very special delivery from Olympia.

“She sent up some really good stuff,” said Alexis Oliver, policy adviser for Gov. Christine Gregoire, as she handed over a box loaded with food from the governor’s kitchen. “She and First Mike are very dedicated to their public servants, so they wanted to participate.”

Salazar said that the members of the food drive’s executive board were not concerned about a drop-off in donations this year.

“What I feel responsible for is that everyone says ‘We won’t forget; we won’t forget,’ and that’s one reason this is important to me,” she said. “You really need to live up to what you said.”

Renninger felt similarly.

“I wasn’t worried,” she said. “One can is one can more than the food bank had, so it’s still a win.”

Among the items most needed by EFN are proteins, such as peanut butter, canned chili, stew and soup, as well as canned fruit, vegetables, baby food and formula.

Donations will be accepted through Monday outside the Lakewood Police Station, 9401 Lakewood Drive S.W.; at all Pierce County Forza Coffee locations; all Pierce County Library branches; Lakewood ACE Hardware, 8123 Steilacoom Blvd. S.W.; and Rusty’s Auto and Truck Repair, 19912 Meridian Ave. E. in Graham.

A Storage Center is also collecting donations at its locations in Parkland, 220 E. 112th Street, and Spanaway, 15413 First Ave. Ct. S., and offering a $1 rental credit for each nonperishable food item that is donated. 

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