‘Cram-A-Cruiser’ event sees Calgarians help cops make most important seizure

Our police officers gave up the bad guys’ seats to make room for a good cause, running a “Cram-A-Cruiser” event out front of the Seton Real Canadian Superstore. (Damien Wood / CTV News Calgary)

The goal on Thursday was several perps’ worth of non-perishables.

Our police officers gave up the bad guys’ seats to make room for a good cause, running a “Cram-A-Cruiser” event out front of the Seton Real Canadian Superstore.

Calgary cops took custody of canned and boxed foodstuffs and hygiene products, packing the back of their ride.

By the event’s mid-point, already, many shopping citizens had taken time to purchase a little something extra.

“Community support so far has been really, really good. (And) by the end of the event, we’re hoping to have this thing fully filled up,” said Staff Sgt. Chiran Cardona with the Calgary Police Service.

“This is so important.”

Everything donated on Thursday will go to Closer to Home and its Norris House families.

“Families exiting homelessness,” said Gabby Learner, senior program manager with Closer to Home.

“They experience a lot of food insecurity and struggle meeting their basic needs.

“This will be a dignifying way to have some choice in the food that they consume and in how they can cook nutritious meals.”

Cardona said everyone deserves to have their basic needs met.

“When they don’t have those items, that’s really sad, and we all need to step up as community members to help those people in need and provide those things for them,” he said.

For anyone who missed the event but is willing and able to help out, Closer to Home also takes monetary donations through its website.

And in October, Closer to Home will start running its Adopt-A-Family campaign ahead of the holiday season.