Kids, Cops & Christmas, a Sumter County Sheriff’s Office program, is off to a great start for 2018, thanks in large part to Villagers Sam and Nadine Landis.
They hosted their sixth annual “Dance the Night Away” Friday night at Lake Miona Recreation Center.
The band for the dance, No Regrets, donated its time. And deputies with the Sumter County Sheriff’s Office were not just idle recipients of the dance proceeds – they were working hard for the money.
Lt. Robert Siemer and Detective Shannon Hart held a friendly competition to see who could raise the most money as people made donations to dance with them. To say the least, their dance card was full, often dancing with more than one partner at a time. All together, they raised $800, with Hart just eking out a win with $50.
Art Belinger, one of Detective Hart’s dance partners, said he comes to the dance every year to support the cause.
“I live on Alcove Loop in Hemingway,” he said. “We have a lot of retired police officers in our neighborhood. We have just made it an annual neighborhood event to come out and support the police department.”
The dance is one of two fundraisers they hold each year, with all the proceeds going to Kids, Cops and Christmas.
For eight years they have organized a pancake breakfast.
The event held at RJ Gators is always a sellout.
“We call on all our friends and neighbors to be the servers,” said Sam Landis. “Many of them of have been with us all eight years. We couldn’t do it without them.”
Bob Haack, representing the Villages chapter of the Suffolk County Police Department Alumni association, and Yvonne Tepsick, owner of Tepsick Insurance, each presented checks for $250 during the dance.
Between the two fundraisers, Sam and Nadine Landis raise close to $6,000 each year for the program.
Kids, Cops and Christmas pairs needy children with police officers and detectives for a morning of shopping for Christmas presents.
For more information about participating in Kids, Cops & Christmas, call the Sumter County Sheriff’s Office at 689-4600.
