River Rouge Police and Community groups provide snacks for children

The food pantry at the River Rouge Police Department serves two purposes: providing children with easily prepared snacks and helping them foster positive relationships with police officers.

Ravioli, peanut butter and jelly, tuna fish, crackers, fruit snacks, microwavable meals and macaroni and cheese, cereal, breakfast bars and juices are examples of some of the snacks readily available at the pantry. A recent donation of baby formula will help expand the program to babies in need.

River Rouge Deputy Clerk, Bridgette Bowdler, who helps with the pantry, said, "And it's easy snacks that they can their parents aren't at home or after school[and]cereal for in the morning."

The children go inside the police department, during day and evening hours, for access to the pantry. After introducing themselves to the police officers, they are able to fill one bag with snacks.

Bowdler said, "So that way they start to feel comfortable with coming into the police department and associating with the police."

Officer Kenneth Lozon and Deputy Police Chief Dasumo Mitchell help keep the pantry organized and stocked.

The pantry is a collaboration between the River Rouge Police Department and non-profit organizations Mimi's Mission and the River Rouge No Kids without a Christmas. It began after a realization that some children had access to food only through school.

Bowdler acknowledges that pantry usage has been very good in the last couple of months as more people have learned of its existence.

Donations are accepted at the Clerk's office, Monday – Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. They can also be shipped to the office. The address for the River Rouge Police Department and City Clerk Office is 10600 W. Jefferson Ave., River Rouge, Michigan 48218. The City Clerk Office telephone number is 313-842-5604.