Ashley Hunter
ECB Publishing, Inc.
When Sheriff Mac McNeill was nominated to the position of sheriff after the death of Jefferson County's beloved Sheriff David Hobbs, he asked his new staff to help him in remembering the legacy that Hobbs left behind.
“I asked them, 'what was Sheriff Hobbs' passion?' and they told me that it was the senior center,” said Sheriff McNeill, adding that he – a newcomer to the county – decided to continue that legacy and passion.
Through the Jefferson County Sheriff's Office, money and aid has been raised to help support the local Jefferson Senior Citizens Center, a resource for the county's elderly population. When the senior center faced dire financial struggles, it was the sheriff's office that launched a significant fundraising opportunity that helped the center regain its footing.
Sheriff McNeill has always made sure to recognize his staff for their hard work throughout it all – often claiming little to no actual recognition for the good deeds done for the center. But on Thursday, July 16, it was McNeill himself who made a contribution to the local senior center.
While McNeill had formerly been nominated to the title of Sheriff by the State of Florida Governor, he had ran for office in 2018 – winning the election of the people. Sheriff McNeill's seat returned to the ballot in 2020, but he was the only contestant who registered for the candidacy, meaning he will receive the seat unopposed.
Towards the beginning of his campaign, Sheriff McNeill had fundraised to collect funds to propel his campaign, but as he was left unopposed, McNeill decided to invest those raised funds in something meaningful.
So on Thursday, July 16, Sheriff McNeill met with the board members and leadership staff at the Jefferson Senior Citizens Center to present them with a check – the remaining balance of his campaign funds.
“This is the best way I thought I could put that money into use, putting it back into helping the county,” said McNeill, while handing over a check to the senior center's Executive Director Audria Flowers.
The check totaled just a little over $4,900.
George Pittman, Sr., a resident of Jefferson County for over 90 years and a board member at the senior center, offered his thanks for the gift. “I've seen sheriffs come and go throughout the years,” said Pittman. “But Sheriff McNeill is the type of leadership we need in America.”
Other board members expressed their thanks before Sheriff McNeill introduced a second guest, Erik Paul. Another Jefferson County resident, Paul and his family own and operate Exiom, a business of medical supplies and 3D printed casts. Paul and his family passed through the county roughly four years ago, and Pauls says that the warm welcome they received (as visitors) from the Sheriff Hobbs family and others contributed to their decision of staying and setting down roots in Jefferson County.
“Everybody in this town played a big part in our decision to live here,” said Paul. “And in turn, we have tried to give back. It's all about giving back – we're all humans here.”
As a small gesture from the Exiom and Paul family, Erik Paul presented the senior center with free personal protection supplies to distribute to their in-need clients, particularly 500 level 2, medical grade masks and several boxes of hand sanitizer.
“We started this company to give people – normal people – the supplies they currently need,” added Paul.
Both the masks and the hand sanitizer were presented, at no cost, to the senior center and the supplies will allow senior citizen clients of the center to receive the personal protection gear they need in order to remain safe during the COVID-19 crisis. The donation of funds will allow the center to continue to operate and provide its much-needed programs to the county's 65+ residents.
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