Officer Erica Torres stands for a photo with a woman after providing her with a gift card outside of Market Basket at Fletcher and Broadway streets in Lowell (Courtesy Lowell Police Department)

LOWELL — Superintendent Greg Hudon is pleased to report that the Lowell Police Department and the Officer Sean A. Collier Memorial Fund partnered last week to hand out gift cards to residents.

Superintendent Hudon, Deputy Superintendent Frank Nobrega, Deputy Superintendent Stephen Gendreau, and several other officers teamed with Joe Rogers and Richard Sullivan of the Officer Sean A. Collier Memorial Fund to hand out $50 gift cards to create positive experiences for officers and to build relationships with residents.

The Officer Sean A. Collier Memorial Fund seeks to build on the legacy of Officer Collier to create connections between law enforcement and the communities they serve. The Fund donated 58 gift cards. Fifty cards were handed out to random residents outside of the Market Basket at Fletcher and Broadway streets in Lowell, while the remaining gift cards were handed out to guests at the Lowell Senior Center across the street.

Lowell Police Deputy Superintendent Stephen Gendreau hands out gift cards at the Lowell Senior Center (Courtesy Lowell Police Department)

Lowell Police and the Officer Sean A. Collier Memorial Fund initially planned to giveaway just a few gift cards that were leftover from a Christmas party hosted at the Lowell Police Boxing Gym, which is sponsored by the fund, but then an anonymous donor to the Collier Fund provided another $2,000 to buy 40 more gift cards for the distribution.

“This was a great opportunity to get out and spread some holiday spirit to those in the center of Lowell who could possibly use a little a help with their grocery bills,” said Superintendent Hudon. “We are grateful to the Officer Sean A. Collier Memorial Fund for once again supporting our department and for once again helping us as we seek to create positive interactions and good relationships with Lowell residents.”

About the Officer Sean A. Collier Memorial Fund:

The Officer Sean A Collier Memorial Fund is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) tax-exempt organization established in memory of MIT Police Officer Sean A. Collier, who was killed in the line of duty on April 18, 2013 in the aftermath of the attack on the Boston Marathon. The Fund hopes to carry on Sean’s deep personal and professional commitment to service, connection and support for others. The Fund awards grants to local public police departments and non-profit groups to support the development and implementation of community programs designed to build connections between law enforcement and the communities they serve.

To learn more, visit: https://officercolliermemorialfund.org/.