Clayton News Daily

By Linda Looney-Bond

lbond@news-daily.com

Some Clayton County Police officers are expected to be waiting tables for a good cause Thursday, during the "Cops and Crabs" fund-raiser event at Joe's Crab Shack in Morrow.

"They're going to be hamming it up, and working hard for their tips," said Allison Kaczenski, director of special events for Special Olympics Georgia.

Police officers and sheriff's deputies from several metro Atlanta law enforcement agencies will wait tables at all six metro area Joe's Crab Shack restaurants Thursday, from 11 a.m., to 9 p.m., according to Kaczenski.

Clayton County Police will serve customers at the Joe's Crab Shack located at 1965 Mt. Zion Road in Morrow.

All tips collected by the officers and deputies will be donated to Special Olympics Georgia, Kaczenski said.

Clayton County residents are encouraged to dine at the restaurant Thursday, to participate in the fund-raising event.

"It's a great opportunity for the community to interact with their law enforcement, and to show the relationship that law enforcement has with Special Olympics," said Kaczenski.

In addition, patrons can choose to give even more to the cause by presenting a Cops and Crabs coupon to their server. For each bill that is accompanied by a coupon, Joe's will donate 10 percent of the bill to Special Olympics Georgia, according to Kaczenski.

"So if somebody spends a hundred dollars, we'll get $10 back from that bill," she said. Patrons can print the coupons at the organization's web site - www.specialolympicsga.org.

"This is our first time doing Cops and Crabs with Joe's Crab Shack," Kaczenski said. "We're looking forward to partnering with them."

"I'm hoping to raise a minimum of $1,000 dollars per store - so at least $6,000 total," she said.

Other metro Atlanta law enforcement agencies scheduled to participate in Thursday's event are the Gwinnett County Police Department, the Gwinnett County Sheriff's Office, the Kennesaw Police Department, the Villa Rica Police Department, and the MARTA Police Department.

Kaczenski said Special Olympics has teamed up with Joe's Crab Shack in other states for the fund-raising effort.

"Nevada has been doing it. This will be their fourth year. South Carolina and Florida hopped on board with it this year too," she said. Kaczenski said several law enforcement agencies in Texas also participate in the event.

Cops and Crabs is an extension of the Georgia Law Enforcement Torch Run, which has raised $525,000 so far this year for Special Olympics Georgia, Kaczenski said.