Cherry Ave Caring for Cops Campaign Culminates with Visit

Cherry Caring for Cops Campaign Culminates in School Visit

The Cherry Avenue Student Council recently teamed up with Mrs. Maria Bentivegna—one of their own Cherry Avenue parents—and, together with the Cherry Avenue community, launched the Caring for Cops Campaign. The idea was to help warm up and bring a little sunshine during these gloomy days to our local Fifth Precinct heroes.

Students, parents and staff members donated items such as Dunkin'® Donut gift cards, granola bars, hand sanitizers, tissue packets, gum and TicTacs®, pens and spiral notebooks, etc. In all, the Cherry Avenue Student Council was able to fill 100 individual gift bags to be distributed to the Fifth Precinct officers.

Making a special trip to Cherry Avenue was Sgt. Joseph Steigele, P.O. Yasmin Gallant, and P.O. Brenda Ruotolo, representing the Fifth Precinct and accepting the donations from our Student Council members. Sgt. Steigele was happy to receive these gifts on all the officers’ behalf. “This was definitely a lot of fun for us. The response was overwhelming. Such a wonderful group of kids. Thank you for all that everyone involved did to make this happen. The care packages were awesome and very much appreciated. Our officers have been coming in throughout the day to pick one up and can’t believe how nice everything was. Great response here at the Fifth Precinct, and I thank you for that.”

Mrs. Denton, Cherry Student Council Advisor, added, “This was a truly rewarding experience for our Fifth-grade Student Council members. They took great pride in boxing, sorting, counting and keeping track of all donations. They carefully filled 100 gift bags and made 100 hand-made cards to place in each bag. The smiles on their faces said it all when the officers arrived at Cherry. Thank you to our officers also for providing a little extra fun and allowing the children to hop into the patrol vehicles and blare the lights and sirens! We truly appreciate the continued, generous support of the Cherry Avenue community in giving back to the greater community.”

As the wife of retired Police Officer and current Cherry Avenue security officer Mike Bentivegna, Mrs. Bentivegna added, “How wonderful to see our Cherry Ave community give back to those who give us so much more.  Sometimes a little appreciation can go so far.  We’re thankful to those who serve and wanted to show that to our officers. The kids did  a great job. I was proud to be a part of this campaign!”