SARASOTA, Fla. (WWSB) - CrimeStoppers of Sarasota County partnered with the Sarasota Police Foundation Tuesday for a simple but powerful act of kindness.

Outside the Wawa on Fruitville Road, officers and volunteers surprised drivers by offering to fill their gas tanks — an unexpected gift that turned curiosity into gratitude.

The effort was backed by a $1,000 donation from CrimeStoppers of Sarasota County, which the Sarasota Police Foundation matched, bringing the total gifted amount to $2,000.

Officers used the funds to purchase fuel for drivers who stopped at the convenience store, transforming routine encounters into moments of community connection.

The plan was simple, said Officer Whitney Bentz of the department’s Community Relations Unit. Officers would approach a driver at the p

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