Donations help 'Stuff the Cruiser'
A state police cruiser with its lights flashing and doors open in front of the Walmart in Butler turned out to be a good thing Saturday. The cruiser, along with vehicles from the sheriff's department and Butler Township police, were taking part in “Stuff the Cruiser” for the Toys for Tots campaign.
The police vehicles attended by members of the Marine Corps League, law enforcement personnel and Legion Riders at Walmart and at Sam's Club in Moraine Pointe Plaza and Rural King in Clearview Mall were being loaded with donated toys from passing shoppers.
Gunnery Sargeant Chad Krumpe of Butler, a Marine reservist and a state trooper at the Kittanning barracks, said the cruisers would be filled with donated toys from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. At noon, one filled police car had already been sent to the Toys for Tots warehouse, and a second was being filled quickly.
“We're looking for any toy from an infant to age 15,” said Krumpe, adding collection boxes for new, unwrapped toys had also been set up in locations throughout Butler County.
“We're taking monetary donations as well,” said Krumpe. “We go buy stuff with the donated cash. It is a struggle to have gifts for infants and teens. We purchase the gifts on our own.”
Toys for Tots will collect toys through Dec. 9. Then all items collected will be sorted and readied for distribution Dec. 11 through 13 at the Clearview Mall.
Potential recipients have until Saturday to register at https://butler-pa.toysfortots.org.
Krumpe, who has been involved in the campaign for 18 years, said last year 2,280 children received Christmas presents through Toys for Tots.
“And it's a good thing to have law enforcement interact with the public,” he said.One trooper interacting with the public Saturday was Tpr. Calee Wietrzykowski of the Kittanning barracks.She said, “Chad is a fellow trooper who asked me to come and help out with this. I brought my cruiser, and it filled up way fast.“I can't believe how many people have donated,” said Wietrzykowski.One of those donating was Sheri Smith of Butler who was shopping with her daughter Kayla East of Butler.“I just saw them on my way into the store,” said Smith. “My daughter got stuff from Toys for Tots. That's why I wanted to help. We just went in and bought stuff; boy, girl, baby.”“We couldn't do it without the community,” said Krumpe.For Legion Rider member Dave Zanicky of Butler, it was his third year of helping out with the toy collection. He appreciated Saturday's good weather.“Last year it was rainy and cold,” he said. “But you have to help the kids out, whatever you can do.”Fellow Legion Rider John Swartzlander of Fenelton and his wife Sharon, remembered the weather.Sharon Swartzlander said, “It was 20 degrees and the wind was blowing. Some of the store customers went in and bought us hand warmers. “That wasn't the case Saturday, and the only gifts brought out were being loaded in the back of Wietrzykowski's cruiser for distribution to deserving children.
