​​Gloucester County Police Academy recruits from Basic Class 57 caught the spirit of Thanksgiving, collecting more than 3,700 food items over the course of four weeks to help South Jersey residents in need.

On Monday, Nov. 23, 20 recruits and their instructor gathered in the Police Academy lobby surrounded by stacks of bottled water and “grab and go" meals being donated to five local organizations. All of the Thanksgiving food items were provided by the recruits of Class 57 and their families. The academy, located on the Rowan College of South Jersey (RCSJ) Gloucester campus, places a strong focus on addressing community-oriented needs. Each of the recruit classes are motivated to participate in numerous philanthropic activities.

This year's food donation is being distributed to four South Jersey counties: Cumberland County's Office of Aging and Disability Services, Camden County's Helping Hands Food Bank, Gloucester County's Senior Services and the First Baptist Church of Jericho in Deptford, and Salem County's Pennsville Visiting Nurses Association.

The Gloucester County Police Academy operates as an autonomous unit within RCSJ's Division of Law and Justice. For more information about the Gloucester County Police Academy, visit RCSJ.edu/PoliceAcademy​.

Rowan College of South Jersey's Gloucester campus is located at 1400 Tanyard Road in Deptford, just off Exit 56 of Route 55.