Winter Haven Tip A Cop raises money for Special Olympics

WINTER HAVEN (FOX 13)) - Don’t be surprised when a Winter Haven police officer hands you your order at the Chick-Fil-A drive-thru.

Friday and Saturday, officers are taking part in the Tip A Cop campaign, for the Florida Special Olympics, at Chick-Fil-A, Starbucks, and Panera on Cypress Gardens Boulevard.

Along with handing out food, officers will be re-filling drinks, cleaning off tables, and working the lines at the drive-thrus - with a bucket in hand.

Sgt. David Keigan said customers have been very generous so far. Keigan and his wife, Lt. Samantha Phillips organize the event in Winter Haven every year.

They also founded and operate an annual 5K race that raises money for the Florida Special Olympics.

They raise as much as $30,000 each year.

“If someone says they don’t have cash or something like that, we’ll tell them we have credit card [machines], and the majority will donate using a credit card,” said Phillips.

The Special Olympics provides training and competition for 5 million challenged athletes in 172 countries.

The best of the best go to the World Games, which will be held in Dubai this year.