Remembering the Lakewood 4 by helping those in need

Family members of four slain Lakewood Police officers walk past a memorial to the officers, Monday, Nov. 29, 2010, at a ceremony in Lakewood, Wash., marking the one-year anniversary of the shooting deaths of the officers, who were killed in 2009 by a gunman as they sat in a coffee shop in Parkland, Wash. (AP Photo/Ted S. Warren)

Last year, the families of the fallen Lakewood Police officers who died in a tragic shooting at a Forza coffee shop raised a memorial and held a small food drive.

This year to honor their loved ones, they’re kicking off a week long food drive to help out food banks in the Lakewood area.

“We wanted to do something positive for the community, as opposed to just the memorial dedication,” Kim Renninger told 97.3 KIRO FM’s Ron & Don Show. “The idea of a food bank was mentioned, and right away, we were just ‘yes!'”

Renninger said that helping out the food bank was something they wanted to turn into an annual event. So the group is amping up their goals and turning their small scale food drive into something that could make a big difference during a tough time.

“Ultimately, we would like to collect $50,000 in donated money and 50,000 pounds in donated food, and that will be given to the Pierce County food banks in the area,” she said. According to Renninger, for every dollar donated, the food bank is able to get $12 worth of food.

She’ll be at the Lakewood Police Station with other family members on Tuesday for the kickoff between 8 a.m. and 6 p.m. Food can also be donated at Forza coffee shops, Lakewood hardware, any Pierce County Library or at the Lakewood Police Department. People can also donate online at the Emergency Food Network webpage, or you can mail checks made out to the Emergency Food Network to the Lakewood Police Department.

“Even if you’re not in the area or if you don’t have money, just donate to your local food bank,”
said Renninger. “Everyone is in need around here.”