ST. LAWRENCE, Pa. — This is what community support looks like.
Dozens of people stopped by Rita’s on Perkiomen Avenue Wednesday afternoon.
Some came for ice cream. Others came to buy raffle tickets. All for a great cause.
At Rita’s and the Mt. Penn Family Restaurant next door, the focus was community. Raffle baskets. Donations. And a lot of people looking for a way to help.
A portion of the proceeds from both businesses will go to the family of Central Berks Regional Police Officer Kristen Yeager, who died in a crash last month.
“We’re having a fundraiser for the fallen officer Kristen Yeager,” said Rita’s owner Josh Nowotarski.
Nowotarski says Yeager was a familiar face around the business.
“We’ve often many times seen her in our lot here patrolling or watching traffic coming in after hours,” he said. “She was not only an officer of the community, but a good friend of ours.”
The response from the community has been overwhelming. Businesses donated raffle prizes. Volunteers showed up to help, including 11-year-old Addison Blakemore.
“I really like to help out the community, and I felt like it was the right thing to do after the officer died,” Blakemore said. “So I just wanted to help.”
Organizers say that’s exactly what the fundraiser is about, neighbors helping neighbors.
And making sure Officer Yeager’s loved ones know they are not alone.
“They’re coming out to remember and honor her and her service and support her family,” Nowotarski said. “So that was the goal, and so far it’s working.”