ORANGE PARK – Although Special Olympics Unified Partner and coach Elizabeth Taylor said she’s never given a server a difficult time, she said she has more respect for their duties after volunteering two days with “Tip-A-Cop” at Texas Roadhouse.

“This is crazy,” she said. “You go, go, go all the time.”

While Taylor, and  members of the Clay County Sheriff’s Office, Orange Park Police Department and the Clay County Special Olympics team weren’t working a full-time shift, they were assisting the staff by delivering food, refilling water and iced tea and greeting customers during its annual three-day “Tip-A-Cop” fundraiser.

The mission was to raise money to send the team to the Florida State Games at Walt Disney World on May 17-18. Customers dug deep and donated a record $13,492, which was separate from what they tipped their servers.

“Thank you to everyone who came out and supported Clay County Special Olympics during our annual “Tip-A-Cop” fundraiser at Texas Roadhouse,” said CCSO coordinator Sgt. Zach Cox. “Thanks to the generosity of our great community, we set a Clay County Special Olympics fundraising record. This year’s fundraiser beat the 2023 “Tip-A-Cop” record by $733.87!

“On behalf of our Clay County Special Olympics Athletes, some of whom you met during our fundraiser, thank you!”

Law Enforcement and Special Olympics athletes will have a quick turnaround. The Law Enforcement Torch Run for Clay County Special Olympics will be on Friday, May 3, at 10 a.m. All participants will be running, walking and cycling from the Hibernia Publix at 865 Hibernia Road off U.S. Highway 17 on Fleming Island. The finish line is 2.3 miles away at the Plantation Sports Complex at 321 Old Hard Road.

The community can cheer on the participants and Special Olympics athletes as they arrive at the Plantation Sports Complex.

The purpose of “Tip-A-Cop” is to raise money for the trip. The Law Enforcement Torch Run is to raise awareness ahead of the state games.

Texas Roadhouse Assistant Manager Morgan McGrane said the restaurant on Blanding Boulevard has hosted the event for the past four years because they like to support local events and it’s a good house for donations.

“We love to help them,” she said. “Whenever they come here, people really tip well, and they tip their servers as well. We love to help them and show them what a good time Texas Roadhouse can be.”

Taylor, who coaches softball and Bocce, said she volunteers weekly with the softball players.

“It is so fulfilling for me to do this every week and watch the excitement of the athletes and the joy they get out of being able to play a sport and have the unity of having the community behind them.”