It was a packed house at RJ Gators in Lake Sumter Landing on Saturday morning. The annual pancake breakfast organized by Sam and Nadine Landis in support of the Kids, Cops & Christmas program was in full swing inside the restaurant while Operation Medicine Cabinet was being handled by deputies stationed outside the restaurant.
Kids, Cops & Christmas is a program operated by the Sumter County Sherriff’s office to provide Christmas presents directly to children in need. On Dec. 10, 180 children will meet at the Wal-Mart stores in The Villages and Bushnell to go shopping with a deputy. The participating deputies do this in their off time as volunteers. Each child can spend up to $50. One of the fundraisers that supports the event is the pancake breakfast started five years ago. Sam and Nadine Landis organize the event; they call on friends, neighbors and family to be the servers and busboys.
“Every penny we earn goes to charity,'” said Sam. “We really want to thank the volunteers, about 25 in all, that came out so early this morning to help with this cause.”
Many of the volunteers are regulars doing it every year.
Operation Medicine Cabinet, in its second year, is an opportunity for people to get rid of expired and no longer needed medications.
This year, 1,280 pounds of medicine was collected.
Proper disposal of these medicines prevents them from being stolen, abused or accidentally taken by children or grandchildren. Also, medicines thrown into the garbage or flushed down the toilet can leech the environment or contaminate groundwater supply. The medicines collected are properly disposed of through incineration.
Several people driving by to drop-off medicine also gave a cash donation the Kids, Cops &Christmas fund.
With the extra donations and more than 300 breakfast tickets sold, the fund raiser looked well on its way to earning more than $2,000. Duvall residents Roger and Lois Mullinax along with their friends Floyd and Mary Woolridge were happy to show their support and appreciation for the sheriff’s office and for all they do for the community.
“People thank me all the time for my service in the military,” said Floyd, “I think more people should thank the police for what they do.”
Two other breakfast participants are big supporters of the sheriff’s department.
Margo and Harry McClary volunteer weekly at the sheriff’s annex on County Road 466. Margo has volunteered there for 18 years. Harry has been a volunteer for 15 years.
“Most people don’t realize what all the sheriff’s department does in the community, especially for children,” said Harry.
There is still time to donate to the Kids, Cops & Christmas fund. You can stop by the sheriff’s office to make a monetary donation or you can call Theresa Cooper, (352) 689-4604, at the sheriff’s office to get mailing instructions.
Another way to support the event is to attend the Dance Party on Nov. 18 at SeaBreeze Recreation Center. The band No Regrets is performing and donating their time. The $10 ticket to attend goes directly to Kids, Cops & Christmas. If you would like to attend, call Nadine Landis at (352) 843-2968.