Residents 'Cram the Cruiser' for food pantry

By Rose Sgarlato
SPARTA — Thanks to a sunny day, warm weather and Easter shoppers last Saturday’s Cram the Cruiser event at Stop & Shop was a great success.
Conducted by Sparta Township Police on March 31, officers collected food donations outside of the supermarket for the Sussex County Food Pantry in Newton.
Chief of Sparta Police Neil Spidaletto said that there were 10 police cruiser cars full of food items from Sparta residents and about $1000 in cash donations.
“Sussex County Police Agencies were successful in donating a significant amount of food and money to Sussex County Food Pantry thanks to the generosity of those that gave,” Spidaletto said. “Sparta Police would like to also thank Stop and Shop for accommodating us for this great cause.”
All donations will be provided to Sussex County's Social Services food pantry that provides food to Sussex County residents and weekend meals for children involved in school free lunch programs.
Cram the Cruiser was a countywide effort with other police departments including Byram, Andover and Newton also participating, bringing the grand total to 40,000 lbs of food and $5,000 in donations, Spidaletto said.