PANAMA CITY BEACH — Panama City Beach Police Chief Drew Whitman is one of many officers out on Spring Break duty this year, working shifts that can last 12 to 16 hours.
To make sure officers are able to eat during the hectic pace, Gulfview United Methodist Church is stepping in to make meals for law enforcement officers as a volunteer project.
Gulfview Outreach Mission Committee Chairperson Cindy Benson said sandwiches and snacks such as crackers and grapes are provided to officers working Spring Break. Church volunteers put together sandwiches and bagged fruit on Tuesdays and Fridays.
Whitman said with Spring Break is busy and hectic, with officers sometimes coming in at 4 p.m. and not getting off until 6 a.m.
Food donations and assistance are common from the community, Whitman said. Police are brought all sorts of food.
“We live in a pro-law enforcement community,” Whitman said.
Benson said the manager of a local Winn Dixie, Barry Lawley, donated lunch material to Gulfview. Most of the food is donated, Benson said.
The volunteer project started last year, with the expansion coming because Gulfview had more volunteers for the project this year, going from 13 volunteers in 2014 to 25 volunteers in 2015. Benson said police otherwise may not have a chance to eat given their busy schedule.
The volunteer schedule started for the church on March 6 and will run through April, with the volunteer schedule varying depending on the police schedule for Spring Break.
Gulfview volunteer Vic Greenlaw, who is from Saskatchewan, Canada, said when the meals are delivered, the police are appreciative. The police say they’re in a better frame of mind once they eat the meals, Greenlaw said.
Greenlaw prepared sandwiches with fellow volunteer Karen Gerber, who is from Indiana. Gerber said she likes to do community service, with this project taking about an hour and a half for her.
“It’s fun,“ Gerber said.