Nearly 800 people attend April 12 event
In conjunction with its first Block Party last month, the Sarasota County Sheriff’s Office conducted a food drive that resulted in 11,265 pounds of food and $547 in cash donations for All Faiths Food Bank and the Sarasota County Schools, Sheriff Kurt A. Hoffman has announced.
From April 1 through April 12, county residents, local businesses and Sarasota County Sheriff’s Office (SCSO) members “brought or shipped non-perishable food items to the agency’s headquarters,” a news release notes. “Working in conjunction with All Faith’s Food Bank and Sarasota County Schools these donations will be distributed to help fight food insecurity in our community this summer,” the release points out.
“Representatives from All Faiths attended the [April 12] SCSO Block Party to assist with cash and food donations,” the release notes. Nearly 800 individuals attended the block party, the release adds, where they could trade a food donation for an event T-shirt.
The “food drive efforts were boosted by the participation of local businesses,” including Sarasota Ford, United Natural Foods Inc. (UNFI), and the agency’s on-site Walk-On Clinic, the release further notes.
“Any time we can work together with our community to help meet the needs of children, we are happy to do it!” said Sheriff Kurt A. Hoffman in the release. “It says so much about those who live in Sarasota County when we can collect over five tons of food in less than two weeks. We hope that each year our SCSO Block Party can build on this success.”
The SCSO Block Party was the first of what agency leaders hope will be many such events to come, the release continues. Along with the food drive, “it featured educational activities, games, drawings, and delicious food and treats — all available at no cost. The families especially enjoyed the Agency Passport activity, the K-9, SWAT, and drone team demonstrations, and the landing of our new helicopter and Air 2,” the release adds.
“The event was created and planned by the Community Affairs team,” manned by volunteers and facilitated by community partners, including Integrity Wealth Management, Gecko’s Grill and Pub, Caddy Carts, Chick-fil-A, Sarasota Watch, Let’s Jump Events, Kona Ice, Bella’s Booth, Airgas, and the Baltimore Orioles, the release points out.