PANAMA CITY — For Capt. Myron Guilford of the Bay County Sheriff’s Office, it’s important to be there for those in need during the holiday season.
To help less fortunate members of the community still have a proper Thanksgiving dinner, the Bay County Sheriff’s Office is collecting canned and dried food items through Operation ThankFULL, a food drive that began last week and will run until Nov. 3.
“It’s important for us to connect with our community, and that the community knows that we are here to protect, serve and also give back,” Guilford said. “This is one way for us to serve our community. … It’s very important for us to give back to the community that gives to us.
Guilford, who oversees BSCO’s community service division, said he hopes to provide Thanksgiving dinner for about 300 to 400 families through the food drive.
He also noted the vast majority of those families will be selected through Bay District Schools. School resource officers will choose 10 families from every local middle and high schools, as well as five families from every local elementary school.
If there are leftover supplies from the drive, they will be distributed by deputies throughout the community to other struggling families.
“We want to make sure we take care of the school children first,” Guilford said. “Whatever’s left over, we’ll get it out to other struggling families that’s in the community that we know, and that law enforcement and community police officers know might need some assistance.”
Donations of canned and dried foods can be dropped off to the BCSO substation at 2730 E. 14th St. The sheriff’s office is requesting donations of food items found at a traditional Thanksgiving dinner, including stuffing, beans, rice and cranberry sauce.
Along with these donations, local schools also are competing to see which can raise the most canned and dried goods for Operation ThankFULL. The school that raises the most will have an ice cream social.
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“Helping a family have a Thanksgiving that probably wouldn’t have a Thanksgiving is very important,” Guilford said. “We should always remember there are people who are less fortunate than we are, and always try to help when we can.
“Helping others in our community strengthens them to move forward and try to make their lives better. We’re not giving them a hand out, we’re giving them a hand up.”