LIBERTY — The youngest learners in Liberty schools were handed low-sugar ice cream sandwiches from Second Harvest Food Bank on Thursday, while also sweetening the kids’ relationship with local police.

Liberty Police Chief Toby Meloro joined Mike Iberis, Second Harvest executive director, and P-2 Principal Jessica Kohler in planning the event at the district’s Guy Blott PK-6 Building, “to put smiles on their faces,” Iberis said.

Vince Camp and Randy Ebie drove the Ice Cream CARE-a-van and provided boxes of treats for community members to hand out to the kids.

“About five years ago, I took over as chief,” Meloro said. “My No. 1 priority was to switch us in the way we do police work. We went to a community-based policing style, and the first thing I did was get two school resource officers in our school system. And that’s just for safety, which is the most important thing.

“But our children are our most important assets, and I wanted my officers to get in there and start relationships with the kids, building trust with them, and bring bonds. And this CARE-a-van program, with giving the children ice cream, just enhances my whole program, to put smiles on the kids,” Meloro continued. “And they see us in more of a positive light, because a lot of times, children see us in a negative light.”

Starting with Liberty, Second Harvest is planning to deliver to every elementary school across Trumbull, Mahoning and Columbiana counties. Giant Eagle will providing the treats to all of the schools. There were only three grams of sugar in the sandwiches

“We are continuing our mission to build a community,” Iberis added. “It’s a feel-good moment.”

Kohler, hired to the position in 2018, said: “We have a really great relationship with the Liberty Police Department. We also have a great relationship with the Second Harvest Food Bank, so it’s just all about community in my eyes — and the students are loving it.”

Township Trustee Devon Stanley, also on hand, gave an example of how socializing among police and young students can address certain community issues.

“We had somebody damage a bathroom at one of our parks,” Stanley said. “It was a school resource officer who got the tip, and we quickly solved the case and got everything cleaned up. The kids even sent us a check for restitution. So, it’s a great builder of community spirit that way.”