Community members waiting online to pick up fresh produce as part of the Fresh Connect initiative were greeted Bristol area law enforcement who distributed holiday shaded envelopes containing $100 as a early holiday gift from The Gene and Marlene Epstein Humanitarian Fund.
The fund with a major asist from the Bristol Borough and Bristol Township Police officers distributing the surprise $100 gifts to community members waiting on line expecting to find a wide selection of locally grown produce; Not $100 bucks as early holiday gifts
The reactions ranged from “why are all the press and police here?” to one older woman facing some of life’s challenges breaking down and crying while hugging Officer Ashley Beck.
The moments shared with officers “who serve and protect” among the 400 or so community members ranged from relief to a sense whatever was to come in the days ahead wouldn’t seem overwhelming anymore, but now manageable.
One woman who picked up her produce and walked yards away could be heard joyously saying she she could now buy new shoes for her grandaughter, passing on the kindness given to her and redirecting it to a young person.
The Gene and Marlene Epstein Humanitarian Fund is a private foundation that supports various causes, most notably ending homelessness in Philadelphia and providing scholarships for students in Lower Bucks County, according to publicly available records.
The Foundation usually distributes cash to those attending Fresh Connect events in December.
Epstein, now 82, dealing with health issues of his own, said the just ended government shutdown was the impetus for early gift giving.
Police Chiefs Joe Moors and C.J. Winik who prefer to remain in the background for these kinds of community embracing events called the gift giving an absolutely beautiful thing that shows kindness still does indeed live on in Lower Bucks County.
The police chiefs said, there are going to be more joint events the departments will be holding and are currently in the planning stages.
One observer at the early holiday gift giving event noted the cross section of ethnic groups present at the event from all walks of life connecting with each other while waiting in line.
It was a day for connections; kind supportive connections where the community came out for fresh produce and received a genuine act of kindness.
Credit: Tom Sofield LevittownNow.com
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