FLEMING ISLAND – Don’t be surprised if one of your servers isn’t wearing an apron or carrying an order pad. And if they’re wearing a bulletproof vest and have a pistol on their hips, don’t be alarmed.

It’s just members of the Clay County Sheriff’s Office collecting money for the county’s Special Olympic Team as part of their Tip-A-Cop program.

The agency will collect and serve on October 27-29 at the LongHorn Steakhouse, located at 1605 County Road 220 on Fleming Island. They will be serving water, tea, coffee, sodas, and bread during the lunch shift from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., and during dinner hours from 3 p.m. to 8 p.m. They will work in conjunction with restaurant servers, who will keep their own tips. Money collected by deputies, Explorers, volunteers and Special Olympic athletes is separate. It will go directly to the Clay County team, according to CCSO Lt. Zachary Cox, the county’s Special Olympics Coordinator.

“The goal every year is always to beat last year,” he said. “A year ago, we collected $13,488 at LongHorn. That included a $1,000 check from a man. We believe we can do it again. Clay County has always been very supportive.”

How supportive? A year ago, between two Tip-A-Cop events and other donations, Clay County ranked fourth among 67 counties in fundraising, with $31,261 in 2024. Special Olympics decided to send Cox to its International Conference in Minneapolis from Oct. 15-18.

“That will be a good opportunity to get some good information, get some new fundraising ideas.”

Clay is currently fourth, behind Lighthouse Point County ($27,000), Lee ($26,150), and Broward ($24,439), with $22,740 already in its coffers. With a final Tip-A-Cop push ahead of the Nov. 1 cutoff, Cox hopes Clay will finish no worse than second in fundraising.

“After this Tip-A-Cop, especially if we match or beat $13,488, we should be second or maybe even first,” he said. “Being in the Top 10 is a huge deal. And the important thing is, all the money collected in Clay County stays in Clay County.”

Money from the fundraising is used to send athletes to the state games at the ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex at Walt Disney World.

For more information, email Cox at zcox@claysheriff.com.