FOP members prepare for the holiday party

Students prepare diligently for the FOP party by creating decorations.

Students prepare diligently for the FOP party by creating decorations.

Gabriella Friedman, For Eastside

Fraternal Order of Police, also known as FOP, is an organizations that helps disabled children. Every year Cherry Hill East High School and Cherry Hill West High School come together to throw a holiday party for children with special needs in the community.

This year the holiday party is going to take place on Dec. 22 in the Crowne Plaza. FOP meets twice a week to make banners, table decorations, a Santa Room and to decorate the whole hall in the spirit of the Christmas holiday.

Matt Demalo (’15) said, “It’s a heartwarming event…and [I] find it a great opportunity to help kids.”

Demalo, a leader of FOP, has been a member all four years of high school.

“The plan for this holiday party is to come together as a school and make improvements from last year,” said Demalo.

With great preparation, decorations and activities, Demalo hopes this FOP holiday party will the best one yet. There are approximately three hundred and fifty students in the FOP club at Cherry Hill East and Demalo said whoever has the best attendance rates and works hard is asked to attend the event.

Becky Hollenberg (’17) a member who attends the meetings twice a week said “[FOP] is a good experience and changed the way [I look] at people and how [I] interact with them.”

Hollenberg, among many of the members, enjoys participating in FOP and making a difference in the community.