BYU-Idaho Radio · Pocatello Police Department's Second Annual "Give the Cops a Bird"
The Pocatello Police Department is helping give to families in need this Thanksgiving. This is the second annual “Give the Cops a Bird” initiative, where the Pocatello Police Department collects frozen turkeys or money, which they will give to the Idaho Food Bank.
“We’re raising money and we’re asking members of our department and the community to donate turkeys to the Idaho Food Bank, so people in our community who have fallen on hard times can have something on their dinner table for Thanksgiving,” said Greg Cates, the community resource officer for the Pocatello Police Department.
Last year’s?inaugural?event?exceeded their expectations. Cates said this year they are hoping to do even better. ?
“Last year was amazing. We got over 200 frozen turkeys and we raised $3,500 in cash donations for the food bank. This year, we are looking at crushing those numbers. We’re hoping [for] at least 300 frozen turkeys and we’re looking at close to $10,000 in cash that we are going to be raising for the food bank this year,” Cates said.
Donations can be dropped off at the Pocatello Police Department, which is located at 911 North 7th Ave. in Pocatello. The building is open 24/7, so turkeys can be dropped off anytime. Lowe’s donated a freezer to the department, and when that freezer is full of turkeys, officers take the turkeys to the Idaho Food Bank.
“Teaming up with the Idaho Food Bank… allows us to gather all of our resources together, reach out to the community, and just get an inpouring of donations of money and food… that the food bank can really put to good use. Being able to get out in the holidays and take a little bit of stress off everybody and make it more enjoyable for them, that’s what it’s all about,”?Cates said.
The last day to donate is Friday, Nov. 20. If you would like to write a check for this cause, make it out to the Pocatello Police Union, and drop it off at the station. More information is available online at the Pocatello Police Department’s Facebook page.