Sarasota County Sheriff Kurt A. Hoffman is pleased to announce the results of the agency’s Block Party Food Drive.
From April 1 through 12, citizens, local businesses, and Sarasota County Sheriff’s Office (SCSO) members, brought or shipped non-perishable food items to the agency’s headquarters. 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. In total, the agency collected 11,265 pounds of food and $925 in cash donations. Representatives from All Faiths attended the SCSO Block Party to assist with cash and food donations. On April 12, the final day of the food drive, nearly 800 citizens attended the first-ever SCSO Block Party where they could trade a donation for an event T-shirt.
Besides the donations of individual citizens and agency members, the food drive efforts were boosted by the participation of local businesses including Sarasota Ford, United Natural Foods, Inc. (UNFI), and the agency’s onsite Walk-On Clinic.
“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. “It says so much about those who live in Sarasota County when we can collect over 5 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 the agency hopes will be many block parties to come. Besides 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 event was created and planned by the Community Affairs team, manned by volunteers, and facilitated with the help of 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.