Community Corner

Bel Air Police Association Passes Food To Needy

The Bel Air Police Association IUPA, the officers union, donated food to Manna House.

Instead of keeping their gifts from the , members of the Bel Air Police officers union decided to pass the gift along.

Town officials gave members of the police department turkeys and hams as a holiday gift this year. But members of the Bel Air Police Association, International Union of Police Associations, or IUPA, voted unanimously to donate the food.

After learning that Manna House, a soup kitchen run by , was low on donations, union members knew they'd found right place to donate.

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"It's going to make a difference in the lives of about 200 hungry people this year," Carol Pazdersky, a pastor at Bel Air United Methodist Church, said Wednesday.

provides a free hot meal every Wednesday. Sandy Gorrell said they serve seniors on limited incomes, homeless people and families having financial difficulties.

Find out what's happening in Bel Airwith free, real-time updates from Patch.

"A lot of them today said this would be their Christmas meal," Gorrell said.

Manna House serves about 8,000 pounds of food a month to more than 260 people in need, she said.

"We're grateful for what we have and we wanted to do something for those who are less fortunate this Christmas," said Christian Rider, union president. "By donating to the Manna House, we're helping residents of our own community."

Anyone who would like to donate to Manna House may bring non-perishable foods to the church or make a financial contribution with a check payable to the church.

The union includes police offers up to and including the rank of sargeant.


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