It was chilly, it was breezy, and two of Toledo’s finest were standing in the Fareway parking lot. Last Saturday between 10 and 2, if you drove down the main drag, chances are some flashing lights would have caught your eye. That’s because Toledo Police Officer and South Tama’s School Resource Officer Vern Jefferson was having a fundraiser. In uniform, Vern stood next to the police cruiser that was slowly being filled with canned and boxed food for the Tama Food Pantry. But he was not alone. Toledo Police Chief Dan Quigley and girlfriend, Lisa Crouch, came out to help.

“Being the School Resource Officer kind of entails being involved with alot of community action. And I thought having a food drive for the local food bank would help out community members that need it,” Vern said.

Officer Jefferson plans on doing the food drive at least twice a year. Other fundraisers are possible as well, including one for school supplies.

Although it may have been the chilliest day so far this fall, Vern raised a total of 572 items (560 lbs), $130 in cash and a $10 Fareway gift certificate. The determination by Officer Vern, Ms. Crouch, and Chief Quigley on Saturday to stand in the cold weather for the food drive can be summed up in one utterance by the Chief, “I can’t feel my toes.”