JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – The search for Lonzie Barton has brought in law-enforcement officers from all over the state and Monday evening the community is getting involved as well.
Later this week a vigil will be held by community members for the 21-month-old. But over the last few days countless people have stepped up to do whatever they can to help the officers in the search.
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A local law-enforcement officer is lending his time to keep the officers energized. As a regular civilian we never know the behind the scenes work that these officers are doing in a case like this. But a former local law-enforcement officer told News4Jax that sometimes officers are working up to 16 hours and sometimes they're not even eating. Though JSO has not called for community support he found a way to show his.
Doug Hillin knows his way around the grill, but as a former law-enforcement officer with 28 years under his belt he also knows what it feels like to search for a missing child.
"These officers when they're searching their mind is focused and it's just in the search. They don't usually take breaks and as we know in the Florida climate you have to take water breaks, you have to hydrate, you have to nourish yourself. I want to provide the nourishment," Hillin said.
He decided to volunteer his time and service as a small thank-you to those searching for Lonzie.
"It's approximately 370 pounds of chicken and I'll probably be getting some more in the morning just to make sure nobody goes hungry," Hillin said.
Tuesday afternoon Hillin will feed more than 150 officers. He says that number is growing. Search crews are spending up to 16-hour days searching for Lonzie who has been missing since Friday morning.
"First off it tugs at my heartstrings because I'm a parent. I've been on many searches as a law-enforcement officer. I've been out there searching and it's very stressful not only to the family of the missing child but to the law-enforcement personnel," Hillin said.
He hopes the community comes together to help recover Lonzie.
"We all need to pull together as a community whole. We have a lot of problems within the community and people just need to step up and this is my way of stepping up here." Hillin said.
Hillin did receive donations of chicken from Rowe's Supermarket. As more officers come out, he'll have more mouths to feed.
Doug says as of Tuesday morning, he has received a huge response from from the community with people who want to volunteer. He says he probably has enough volunteers now, but people are still more than welcome to come out.
If you'd like to help assist Doug on Tuesday whether it be plating food or cooking his info can be found on his website. He will set up around noon at Kings Trail Elementary.