Sheriff Tom Knight is pleased to announce the Sarasota County Sheriff’s Office collected more than 750 donations including more than $1,000 in gift cards during the agency’s inaugural holiday toy drive.  

Following the agency’s recent move into their new headquarters on Cattleridge Blvd. in Sarasota, the sheriff’s office utilized the lobby to place a tree delivered by Sarasota Boy Scout Troop 23 as a location to collect toys for children ranging from newborn to 18 years old. The toy drive lasted for two weeks and brought in donations from employees and community members alike. On Monday, deputies delivered 758 gifts including $1,040 in gift cards to the 12^th Judicial Circuit Guardian Ad Litem offices in downtown Sarasota. Over the next few days, guardians will deliver toys to the more than 1,500 children from throughout Sarasota, Manatee and Charlotte counties who have been removed from their homes due to abuse or neglect.

“We are in awe of the overwhelming support we received for this initiative,” said Sheriff Tom Knight. “We called on our community and our employees, and they answered. Thanks to their giving spirit, hundreds of children may now have a happier and brighter holiday season. It’s day’s like these I feel immensely proud of the Sarasota County community.”