ST. LAWRENCE, Pa. — Dozens of people stopped by Rita’s on Perkiomen Avenue for a good cause on Wednesday.
Some came for ice cream, while others came to buy raffle tickets — all to support Officer Kristen Yeager’s family.
“The local community has been fantastic,” said Det. Joseph Taimanglo of the Central Berks Regional Police Department.
For Taimanglo, the support comes one day after saying goodbye to a fellow officer.
“Terrible day,” he said. “We were able to make it through yesterday with the support of the community and surrounding law enforcement agencies.”
Wednesday’s fundraiser brought together Rita’s and the Mt. Penn Family Restaurant next door. Both businesses donated proceeds to help Officer Yeager’s family.
Rita’s owner Josh 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, including 11-year-old Addison Blakemore, showed up to help.
“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.”
At the Mt. Penn Family Restaurant, employees said the response from the community has been overwhelming.
“We’ve had a great response so far,” said Karissa Burns of the Mt. Penn Family Restaurant. “We’ve had some raffle baskets all week. People have been buying tickets for them. Officer Yeager’s family has been customers here at the restaurant as well.”
The support wasn’t limited to businesses. Neighbors stopped by throughout the day, including Marcia Rapp of Mount Penn.
“It’s for my heart and for her family’s heart, I’ll tell you,” Rapp said. “It makes me feel so good to try to do something for somebody that needs help like they do now.”
Taimanglo says the support the community has shown so far is only the beginning.
“If they check our social media at Central Berks Regional Police, our Facebook page, there’ll be more information coming out about different fundraisers to support the children of Officer Yeager,” he said.