By Dawn Burleigh

The Orange Leader

Pinehurst Police Department, with the assistance of Project Blue, is holding a Sack Lunch Fundraiser from 10 a.m. – 3 p.m. on Wednesday, Oct. 19, to benefit Officer Dana Robnett.

Project Blue is a non-profit organization formed to help officers who face serious illness or injuries outside of the line of duty.

Robnett has served in law enforcement for 33 years.

“Majority of those years he was working as a reserve or part-time,” Officer Kevin Norton said. “Most of the time he was giving to the community at no charge.”

Norton has worked with Robnett for approximately three years.

“He was putting his life on the line for the community at no charge,” Norton said. “He is all about supporting the kids and the community. When someone’s child was having a fundraiser, Robnett would be first in line to buy cookie dough or what was being sold.”

Robnett is currently receiving cancer treatments at MD Anderson for esophageal cancer. He is using a travel trailer purchased for his retirement to help save costs as he and his wife travel to and from Houston for treatments.

“In his time of need, we wanted to give back to him,” Norton said. “He’s family, Blue family. It is important to give back to him.”

Norton added Robnett does have insurance and the department wants to help with the out of pocket expenses.

“When he receives treatments, he is spending three to four days in Houston at a time,” Norton said. “I reached out to the staff about doing something to help him and everyone was on board since day one.”

Norton attended a conference with Combined Law Enforcement Associations of Texas (CLEAT) and met Marc and Mary Pinney of Project Blue.

“Project Blue has been a godsend,” Norton said. “It took a lot of burden off us. We are organizing while still working.”

Several local businesses also helped pitch in with donations and raffle prizes.

Robert’s Steak House and Meat Market donated the use of a pit and meat. Walmart, Sabine Federal Credit Union and Market Basket also made donations for supplies.

Items for raffle are supplied by Junk and Disorderly, Matthews Jewelry, J Scott Aflorist, Bronze Body, All Points Pack and Ship and Danner. Danner is a boot company, which makes hiking, hunting, work, military, and law enforcement boots.

On Wednesday, tents and tables will be set up in front of Pinehurst City Hall so people may stop and eat or drive thru as they pick up a sack lunch for a cause.

The lunch will consist of sausage or boudin, bread, chips and a drink for $7. Free deliveries are available for orders of 10 or more lunches. Pre-sale tickets are available at Pinehurst Police department located at 2493 M.L.K. Jr. Drive in Pinehurst. For more information call Dewanna at 886-2221 or Kevin at 651-9948.