Community Corner
Principal Sticks Up For Toms River Police
East Dover Principal Matt Gray had a different way of supporting the Toms River Police Vest-A-Cop fundraiser.
TOMS RIVER, NJ — Duct tape can hold just about anything — even a school principal.
East Dover Elementary School Principal Matt Gray can attest to that personally, after he was stuck to the wall for several hours on Wednesday with dozens of pieces of duct tape.
Gray allowed students and staff at East Dover to buy pieces of duct tape and use them to tape him to the wall as a fundraiser for the Toms River Police Department's Vest-A-Cop efforts. It was one of many efforts across the Toms River Regional Schools to support the annual fundraiser that pays for bullet-resistant vests for the department's officers.
Find out what's happening in Toms Riverfor free with the latest updates from Patch.
At East Dover, Gray's performance as a wall hanging raised $1,500.
"This fundraiser has demonstrated that the children and families of East Dover support our local law enforcement officers that protect them each and every day in Toms River," Gray said.
Find out what's happening in Toms Riverfor free with the latest updates from Patch.
"Our students have a special bond with our Class III Officer Ron Kirby, who makes coming to school safe. Being able to support Officer Kirby's colleagues within the Toms River Police Department has been an honor and a privilege for our entire team at East Dover," Gray said.
Other schools in the Toms River Regional district engaged students and staff to show their support in other ways.
At Intermediate South, students donated $1 to wear pajamas on Friday, and the school was paid a visit by the Beachwood Police Department's Canine Unit. That effort raised $374 that went to the Beachwood Police Department.
Walnut Street Elementary School hosted a Jeans Day on Thursday with a $5 donation, and students were encouraged to dress as police officers on Friday in honor of the Toms River Police Department. And "Hats Off to the TRPD" invited West Dover Elementary families to send in donations allowing children to wear their favorite hat to school.
Students in the Early Learning Center donated $1 to color a special Vest-A-Cop coloring page. That raised more than $550 and Supervisor Anna Kasper presented Toms River police officers with the donation while they visited with students.
Toms River Regional Schools officials said additional events were planned and highlights would be published on the district's website.
Get more local news delivered straight to your inbox. Sign up for free Patch newsletters and alerts.
