Emerald Coast Hospice Hosts Annual Back-to-School Drive-Thru

By Shelia Mader

Emerald Coast Hospice Care once again stepped up to support the community it serves, hosting its third annual back-to-school drive-thru supply event this past Friday morning. Though not held consecutively each year, the effort continues to grow in impact, reaching nearly 140 children this year with essential school supplies and a few extra treats.

Sunshine Speers, Market Manager for Emerald Coast Hospice, shared that the event was born out of the pandemic era, modeled after a similar drive-through held in Bonifay. When the organization moved into its current Marianna location, the new setup, featuring a convenient one-way in and out, was ideal for a safe, efficient drive-thru experience.

“We started this right after COVID,” Speers explained. “The location just made sense for this type of event, and it’s really taken off.”

Rather than pre-packed backpacks, Emerald Coast coordinates with community vendors who each provide a selection of school items, ensuring a wide variety of supplies for every child. This year’s participants included: Travel Ball USA, Emerald Coast Hospice,  CenterWell Home Health, Chipola Health and Rehab, Chipola Healthy Start, Chipola Quick Care, Alford Baptist Church.

Each vendor contributed different items, folders, notebooks, scissors, glue sticks, erasers, and more, ensuring that each child left with a well-rounded set of supplies to start the school year strong.

“We changed our time this year, so the turnout was a little different,” Speers said. “But we still served close to 140 kids. We also handed out popsicles as a fun treat, and our wonderful Emerald Coast volunteers came out to help.”

Some of the donated supplies were left over from a recent event held in Alford, allowing the organization to stretch its reach even further. As a nonprofit, Emerald Coast Hospice Care utilizes its foundation to invest directly back into the communities it serves—not just Marianna, but also Chipley, Vernon, Ebro, Esto, Ponce de Leon, and other outlying areas.

“I don’t want to focus just on one area,” said Speers. “Our outlying communities need just as much support. Whenever I hear about events like this or areas in need, I want us to be part of that.”

Through their ongoing efforts, Emerald Coast Hospice Care continues to be a vital presence not only in healthcare but also in the daily lives of families across the region.