Community Corner
Police Fundraiser Draws Crowd
The San Mateo Police Association held its annual crab feed, which attracted hundreds of people.
The San Mateo Police Officers’ Association held its second annual crab feed Friday at the Elks Lodge to help fund its own programs as well as the charities to which it contributes.
“My interest was to get out to the public more,” said Jeanine Luna, secretary on the association’s board of directors and chief organizer of the event. “It’s only our second year and we’re still trying to perfect it.”
The evening sold-out at about 350 chairs, 80 more than last year, according to Luna. Each seat was $50, but many bought whole tables of 10 at $450. That included admission and dinner with salad, bread, pastas and, of course, crab.
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The night also included auctions, sales and raffles. The auctions and sales included items from the Police Association from past events, as well as from Mancave Memorabilia and Stella & Dot. The private entities donated a portion of their sales to the association.
Stella & Dot is a company that allows people to be individual stylists, selling the products and holding trunkshows. Jennifer Peruzzaro was the stylist Friday night who chose to donate part of her sales to the association because her husband, Dave, is an officer.
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Peruzzaro said she teaches kindergarten in Danville and that this is her “adult job.” She said Friday's night's fun was for a good cause and would benefit the families of the officers.
Officers belonging to the Police Sssociation can receive dental insurance, vision insurance, health insurance, life insurance, employee assistance like counseling, a deferred compensation plan and more.
The association, being a nonprofit, also donates to charities including the Mid-Peninsula Boys & Girls Club, the American Cancer Society, Special Olympics and San Mateo Youth Athletics.
Supporters from all over came to the event, including the San Francisco Police Credit Union, Firefighter’s Association, San Mateo city employees, and colleagues from the District Attorney’s office and crime lab, as well as community members, Luna said.
“What it really is is the community saying 'thank you' to our police department,” said Carole Groom, San Mateo County supervisor representing San Mateo, Belmont and Foster City. “They do so much more than arrest people, they keep our communities safe.”
The evening, which ran from 6 p.m. to midnight, was hosted entirely by officers and the association.
“This is the police officers’ event. They put it on,” said San Mateo police Chief Susan Manheimer. “They hosted it because they want to open themselves up to the community.”
Luna said it was too early to tell exactly how much money was raised Friday evening.
