Each year, Baker County law enforcement officers participate in the Annual Baker County Sheriff’s Office Beard Contest to help raise awareness about domestic violence and to raise money for Hubbard House, the domestic violence center serving Baker and Duval counties.
For the months of October and November, any law enforcement officer could give a $20 donation per month to benefit Hubbard House in order to grow their beards and compete in the contest. The contest started October 1, the first day of Domestic Violence Awareness Month, and ended November 30. There were a total of 36 participants in the 2011 Baker County Sheriff’s Office Beard Contest.
The bearded officers met Friday, December 2, at the Baker County Sheriff’s Office facility, to be judged for a chance to win first place in the categories of fullest beard, neatest beard and best goatee. The winning officers received various prizes from local businesses.
The winners are:
- Best Goatee: Ben Anderson
- Neatest Beard: Kelby Crawford
- Fullest Beard: Buddy Harvey
Baker County Sheriff Joey Dobson proudly presented J.J. Sweet, Hubbard House Baker County Advocate, with $1,320 raised through the annual contest.
“Hubbard House is extremely grateful for all that Baker County law enforcement does to help end domestic violence,” said Sweet. “Above all they do, to help raise money for Hubbard House’s programs and services is icing on the cake.”
The donations given by the officers to participate in the beard contest help support Hubbard House’s work in providing emergency shelter, a 24-hour domestic violence hotline, therapeutic childcare, school-based education, counseling, court advocacy, and extensive adult and youth outreach services. Donations such as this help Hubbard House serve over 6,000 clients each year.
Domestic violence is a crime that affects thousands of women, children, and men in Baker and Duval Counties each year.
If you or someone you know is in an abusive relationship please call the Hubbard House 24-hour domestic violence hotline at (904) 354-3114 or (800) 500-1119. Hubbard House can help.
ABOUT HUBBARD HOUSE: Founded as the first domestic violence shelter in Florida in 1976, Hubbard House is a certified, comprehensive domestic violence center providing programs and services to more than 6,000 women, children, and men annually in Duval and Baker counties. While Hubbard House is most known for its emergency shelter, the agency also provides extensive adult and youth outreach services, school-based education, therapeutic childcare, batterers’ intervention programs, court advocacy and volunteer and community education opportunities. Visit www.hubbardhouse.org to learn more.
By Ashley Johnson Scott