Cops stock campus pantry just in time for holidays

For the fourth consecutive year, the Wright State University Police Department participated in No-Shave November in a fundraising effort that benefited the Raider Food Pantry.

On Nov. 21, officers filled their police cruisers with items purchased from Sam’s Club in Beavercreek, then donated to the pantry almost $1,600 of nonperishable goods including chicken noodle soup, cereal, peanut butter crackers and much-needed bottled water.

“This year we had the entire department involved,” said Kurt Holden, director of public safety. “Answering the need in our community is what we do.”

Over the last three years the department has donated about $4,800 in groceries to the Raider Food Pantry.

This year, cheers and laughter also filled the University Hall Atrium when Wright State administrators and staff watched three colleagues have their heads shaved to raise additional funds for the Raider Food Pantry too.

“Myself, Daniel Palmer and Burhan Kawosa were selected to get our heads buzzed,” said Holden. “We raised over $5,000 additional dollars to help support the foodbank.”

Raider Food Pantry managers said they serve around 40 students a week. Donations from police arrived just in time to re-stock dwindling supplies.

“I’m overcome with gratitude right now,” said Destinee Biesemeyer, director of Student Advocacy and Wellness. “We are very lucky to have these officers and they’re always going above and beyond for us.”