Ice Cream Party On the Line! Schools Compete by Donating Food!

The Bay County Sheriff’s Office is hosting Operation Thankful, a food drive to provide hearty holiday meals to families in need across Bay County. This year, the drive is adding a fun twist: a contest between schools to see who can donate the most food. The winning school will receive an ice cream party from Blue Bell!

The inspiration for Operation Thankful came from Deputy Casey Melton, who was disheartened to only have 12 meals to give out to needy families after receiving donated food from the American Legion one year.

 “It broke her heart because she only had 12 meals to give out, and she found a whole lot more families than 12 that was in need,” explained Lt. Granger of the Bay County Sheriff’s Office. “That is how Operation Thankful began.”

Food insecurity is a major issue facing Bay County families, with over 15% of residents and one out of every five children being food insecure. Operation Thankful aims to make a dent in these numbers.

Last year alone, over 1,000 families received meals through the program. This year, Operation Thankful is rallying Bay County schools in friendly competition to collect the most donated food items and funds. Middle and high schools across the district are leading food drives, with some elementary schools also jumping in.

The most-needed items are typical Thanksgiving fare, such as canned vegetables, cornbread mix, cranberry sauce, boxed mashed potatoes, and anything else that can help complete a hearty Thanksgiving plate. Frozen turkeys will be provided through community donations so families can have the full experience.

Collected food will be sorted at the Bay County Sheriff’s Office and distributed to pre-identified families in need just in time for Thanksgiving.

How to Get Involved:

• Donate non-perishable food items at the Bay County Sheriff’s Office at 3421 N Highway 77 in Lynn Haven.
• Donate funds to the Bay County Sheriff’s Office to help purchase additional food items.
• Encourage your child’s school to participate in the food drive contest.
• Spread the word about Operation Thankful to your friends and family.

Together, we can make sure that every family in Bay County has a happy and healthy Thanksgiving!