Yeah, it's kind of funny. Police are going on a doughnut strike to donate food and funds to Manna, a food bank in Pensacola. Manna feeds the hungry, hurting and poor in our community. Tell me a police-doughnut joke. We've all heard it. The police have heard it.
But honestly, is that fair? I know that when doughnuts arrive at the Pensacola News Journal offices, they're gone in a flash. And it's the same at your workplace, right? I mean, we all love doughnuts, right? But somehow, our cops get all the doughnut jokes. Or at least, they have a sense of humor about them.
Local police and, seemingly uninterested in the joke, area firefighters are staging a “donut strike” to raise awareness, funds and food for Manna, which has been feeding the hungry and needy in Escambia and Santa Rosa counties for 41 years.
The 2024 Donut Strike for Manna will take place from Wednesday, June 26th to Friday, June 28th. First responders who can't get enough of donuts will instead visit local grocery stores in Escambia and Santa Rosa counties to collect food and donations for Manna's mission. Police, sheriff's and firefighters will be in stores from 3:00 pm to 6:00 pm each day of the three days. To find participating grocery stores in your area, visit mannahelps.org.
Food and monetary donations can also be dropped off at Manna headquarters at 3030 N. E St. weekdays from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m.
“Due to rising prices for food and other essentials, Manna is facing even greater demand than normal during the summer,” said Manna Executive Director Dede Fronracker. “At the same time, food donations are down as everyone feels budgets get tighter. Our first responders see children and families in distress every day, and we're so grateful for their efforts to make a difference.”
In 2023, Manna distributed 803,338 pounds of food in a two-county area, valued at more than $1.5 million. Food was distributed to more than 85,000 families and individuals.
“I've seen firsthand the great work Manna does in our community,” said Deputy Andrew Hobbs of the Escambia County Sheriff's Office, who serves on Manna's board of directors. “I've seen the hard work of the staff and volunteers. I know some people don't understand, but there are families and families in our community who are in such need that they don't have healthy food for their children or themselves. This is a great opportunity for us to get out and collect food and tell people we meet about the work they do.”
Related article: Edible Art: Fighting Hunger and Staying Feeded with Mana Fundraisers
Organizations participating in the “Donut Strike” also include Escambia County Fire and Rescue, Gulf Breeze Fire and Rescue, Gulf Breeze Police Department, Midway Fire Protection District, Pace Fire and Rescue District, Pensacola Fire Department and Pensacola Police Department.
So why are only cops being teased about donuts?
“I don't know,” Hobbs said, “but people have been saying that for years. I personally don't eat donuts. It's not that I have any aversion to them, but I've lost a lot of weight so I don't eat them anymore. I know a lot of people who don't like donuts.”
But most of them, like the rest of us, love a doughnut every now and then, and giving it up for a few days for a good cause is easy enough.
“When you start talking about Whataburger, that changes,” Hobbs said. “It might be a lot tougher.”
The doughnut strike end party will be held at 8:30 a.m. on July 2 at J's Bakery and Café, 2014 N. 12th Ave. Totals will be announced for the event, and the public will be asked to share doughnuts with police officers and firefighters, so the public will likely eat more.
