Lend A Hand Reaches Milestone of Service to Families in Need
The last few months have been rough on our state. In addition to the usual issues deputies are faced with on a daily basis, law-enforcement from all agencies have been dealing with the panic, fear, destruction and recovery associated with multiple major storms hitting Florida.
Hurricane Irma was unprecedented in size and power as it approached the state and literally affected all 67 counties. Residents were bracing, evacuating or sheltering from Key West to Pensacola, and Florida deputies were answering the call from the start.
Thank you for always running toward the danger, putting others before yourself and protecting your community.
Dealing with tragedy is always heartbreaking, and our deputies often find themselves comforting those who have had a loved one injured or taken from them under tragic circumstances. Unfortunately, there are occasions when those same deputies, or members of their family, are the ones in need of comfort. Through crime, accidents sickness or acts of God, they are in immediate and unexpected need. It is for those times that the Florida Deputy Sheriffs Association created the Lend A Hand program.
Lend A Hand is a fund that is available to deputies and their families when they need help most. Over the years, we have assisted families during the trauma associated with on-duty shootings, life-threatening illnesses, boating accidents, fires and at-home accidents. Donations are as much as $1,000 and are often delivered within 24 hours of when the tragedy occurs. Membership in FDSA is not required.
While insurance and other programs often meet longer-term needs of these families, there can be immediate financial stresses that need to be addressed. Land A Hand was created to make sure they didn’t have to worry about financial obligations in the hours following a tragedy.
I am very happy to report that due to the generosity of individual contributors, supportive sheriff’s offices and the vision of corporate sponsors such as Sprint, we have now served more than 100 families in need.
It is hard to believe, but we delivered our 100th check earlier this year. We are extremely humbled and grateful to be able to provide this service. We also fully understand that 100 checks means that many times over the last several years, families have been in great need and experienced significant loss. We are grateful for the opportunity to come alongside them and express our appreciation and love with a tangible gift that relives an immediate burden. Thank you to all who continue to make that possible.
The following is a small sample of the people who have been through the Land A Hand program. We continue to keep them in our thoughts and prayers. Please continue to support deputies and their families through this amazing program.
