Fall River Police holding Guns for Groceries event

The Fall River Police Department is holding another Guns For Groceries event to help decrease gun injury and gun violence.

The program will offer grocery gift cards for guns – no questions asked. Anyone returning a shotgun or long gun will receive a $50 gift card. Handguns returned will earn a $75 gift card. Market Basket and Domino’s Fall River along with Attorney Scott Lang and Southcoast Health are supporting the event.

The event is done, in part, to remember Rev. Dr. Robert Lawrence who was an important part of the gun buyback program until his passing on October 2nd in 2018. Before last year’s event, several of those involved spoke about the program and Dr. Lawrence.

“For 25 years, my husband was committed to making our communities safer by initiating the guns for groceries program,” said Elizabeth Duffy, Assistant General Counsel, Massachusetts Department of Developmental Services and wife of the late Rev. Dr. Robert Lawrence. “I am proud of what my husband stood for.”

“It is an honor to continue the legacy of Rev. Dr. Robert Lawrence in the Guns for Groceries program,” Fall River Police Chief Albert F. Dupere said. “Even if only one gun, of over the 3000 collected so far in Fall River, saved one life, the entire program has succeeded beyond our collective hopes.”

“In memory of Dr. Robert Lawrence, Southcoast Health is proud to support the ‘Guns for groceries’ community initiative in our mutual mission to prevent gun-related accidents in the home,” said Dr. Robert Caldas, D.O. Chief Medical Officer of Southcoast Health. “This is an effort to curb gun injury and acts of violence that threaten the safety and health of our communities.”

Guns for Groceries will take place Saturday, November 23rd at Blessed Trinity Church, 1340 Plymouth Ave. Fall River from 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.