SARASOTA COUNTY – Daiquiri Deck is teaming up with Southeastern Guide Dogs to help you put your best paw forward.
“Everything we do is to help the community because the community is what drives our business,” said General Manager of Daiquiri Deck, Dylan Pike.
With a goal to raise $50,000 for National Guide Dog month, Daiquiri Deck has partnered with Southeastern guide dogs to raise funds with its Daiquiri for dogs program throughout the month of September.
“If you come inside of our restaurants you can do a round-up on your check, you can tell the server of bartender how much money you want to donate, you can do a straight donation or roundup,” said Pike.
A QR code will also be available for guests to donate a custom amount of their own. All in all, donations will help to continue to provide life-changing services for people with vision loss and veterans with disabilities
“I have retinitis pigmentosa, so I don’t have any peripheral vision, I can’t see in the dark or dim lighting and I struggle with light change and depth perception and before Bristol I didn’t want anyone to know about my eyesight, I didn’t use a cane, I just ran into a lot of stuff,” said Associate Director of Philanthropy at Southeastern Guide Dogs, Katie McCoy.
McCoy says, her guide dog, Bristol has helped take a lot of her stress away.
“I didn’t realize how much stress there was until it was all gone, but she allows me to not have to rely on other people so I am able to go out and do things that I want to do without having to have someone else go with me and she can make sure that I am safe,” said McCoy.
All guide dogs are provided at no-cost to the people who need them.
“Every single person gets their dog for free, they get to stay on campus with all their meals payed for and we also have lifetime follow ups, so every year a trainer will come out and make sure you are doing okay with your dog,” said McCoy.
“I feel so strongly that Bristol really changed my life and I want to help other people and I know that daiquiri deck is helping so many people and we really appreciate that,” said McCoy.
The top donor of the month, or the Top Dog, will receive a VIP tour of the Southeastern Guide Dog facility in Palmetto. That includes a photo with a puppy-in-training and a meet-and-greet session with a recipient of a guide dog.