Star City Police Chief Jessica Colebank has spent her career in law enforcement helping others, and now the Star City and greater Morgantown community has stepped up to help her in the wake of her recent breast cancer diagnosis.
On Friday, hundreds of people came to Peace Hall at St. Mary Roman Catholic Church on University Avenue in Star City to show their support for Colebank … and for some homemade meatballs.
For weeks, the community worked to put together a spaghetti dinner to help the chief while she takes an extended medical leave.
Colebank, who recently underwent surgery and is now on the road to recovery, was a bit emotional entering the room filled with friends, neighbors and colleagues from other local law enforcement agencies, the Monongalia County court system and local government.
She said she was unable to find the words for how she felt, but her tear-filled eyes told the story.
Star City Mayor Sharon Doyle, who helped organize the fundraiser, said, “It’s been a journey. Getting it organized is one thing, but getting a team to pull it off is something totally different – and we did that today.”
After weeks of gathering donations for food and prize raffles, Doyle said the team behind the dinner started preparing on Thursday around noon and rolled over 1,000 meatballs from scratch, made the sauce, and got started on the salads and other details.
“It’s been a whirlwind couple of days, but man is it worth it,” she said. “She really deserves this, she does.”
The room in Peace Hall, which was set for about 160 people at a time, filled immediately when they began serving at noon. The dinner was scheduled until 7 p.m.
By 3:30 p.m. – just 3 ½ hours after they started – they sold out at 500 dinners.
Doyle said the huge turnout proves Star City takes care of its own.
“It shows a lot of respect here,” she said. “It shows that Star City cares.”
If there is anyone who was unable to attend the event but wants to make a donation, they’re welcome to stop by City Hall in Star City with cash or checks made payable to “Cure for the Chief.”
