Timberlake Police Chief Nick Dolbin and the Timberlake Police Department joined the American Cancer Society and Hope Lodge to host a Fill the Trunk fundraiser for breast cancer on Saturday, Oct. 17, 2026. The event ran from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at Timberlake Village Hall, 11 E. Shore Blvd., where residents were invited to drop off household supplies and restaurant gift cards to support people facing cancer.
The fundraiser, covered by The News-Herald, brought a local police department together with two organizations that serve cancer patients. For Chief Dolbin, the cause is also a personal one.
How the Fill the Trunk Idea Came Together
The fundraiser grew out of an earlier goal. When Dolbin took over as chief of the Timberlake Police Department, he wanted to create a pink patch for the department’s officers. Pink is widely recognized as the color of breast cancer awareness, and the department was eventually able to introduce the patch.
Soon after, the American Cancer Society and Hope Lodge approached the department about working together on a fundraiser. Dolbin and his team came up with the idea of filling a police cruiser with donations, a concept that became the Fill the Trunk event.
Supporting Hope Lodge and Its Guests
Hope Lodge locations across the country offer a free place to stay for people who are battling cancer. To support that mission, the organizers asked the community for practical household items.
The donation list included paper towels, tissues, blue surgical masks, Lysol or Clorox wipes, Cascade dishwasher pods, disposable coffee cups, Windex glass cleaner, toilet cleaner, and magic erasers. Donors could also contribute gift cards to area restaurants.
A Cause Close to Home
Chief Dolbin has spoken openly about why this cause matters to him. “This is an issue close to my heart,” he told The News-Herald.
His mother, Helen Dolbin, was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2003 and passed away on July 3, 2022. Another member of his family is currently facing breast cancer. Dolbin said he was honored that the department could help and make a difference for people affected by the disease.
Community Service as Part of the Job
The Fill the Trunk fundraiser reflects the Timberlake Police Department’s broader focus on community engagement. In January 2026, the Ohio Association of Chiefs of Police selected the department as its Department of the Month in recognition of its community service.
For Nick Dolbin, community work has been a consistent part of his law enforcement career. He has received awards for Community Youth Service and for Gun Safety Outreach with the United States Attorney in Northeast Ohio. During his time with the MetroHealth Police Department, he supported the MetroHealth Advocates for Community and School Safety (MACSS), a clinical and support staff committee that worked with MetroHealth’s Office of Public Safety to distribute free gun locks. Dolbin and his fellow officers showed community members how to secure a weapon, install a lock, and handle firearms safely.
About Nick Dolbin
Nick Dolbin is a law enforcement officer with more than 16 years of experience, including in leadership roles, and currently serves as Chief of the Timberlake Police Department. He previously served as a sergeant with the department, where his roles included TAC Officer, Command Staff member, Field Training Officer, and Taser and firearms instructor. His career also includes service as a 911 Operations Supervisor for the Cuyahoga County Department of Justice (CECOMS), Administrative Sergeant for the MetroHealth Police Department, and Commander for the Amsterdam Police Department.
Dolbin holds a Bachelor of Business Administration in Management and Labor Relations from Cleveland State University. He attended the Cleveland Heights Police Academy and the Southwest Florida Public Service Academy and has taken courses in Executive Management Leadership at Ashland University. Outside of law enforcement, he is a licensed real estate agent and runs Premier Field Services, a real estate sales and property management company in Columbia Station, Ohio.