He's making the doughnuts
By Matthew Whittle
Published in News on December 18, 2006 1:45 PM
Wayne County's head cop was at the doughnut shop this morning.
But this time, Sheriff Carey Winders was serving doughnuts rather than eating them.
Well, mostly serving them. He did eat one.
Working at Krispy Kreme from 8 to 10 a.m. today, Winders managed to raise more than $500 in tips as he sold box after box of hot glazed doughnuts.
"Hi, I'm Sheriff Winders working for United Way today trying to get some money raised for a good cause. Would you like a hot doughnut?" the sheriff would ask the driver of almost every car going through Krispy Kreme's parking lot.
Standing at the end of the drive-thru, he tried to catch people as they were leaving.
"We have a steady drive-thru business so we thought it be a better opportunity for him to meet and greet and get some donations out there," Krispy Kreme franchise owner Amanda Tilley said. "He's doing a great job."
Just about everybody he approached -- whether inside or out -- made a donation and some even took an offered doughnut.
"I think things are going good," Winders said about halfway through his shift. "We're getting them as they leave so we can see if they get change."
"It's hard for them to look you in the eye and say they ain't got any money when we just saw them get change," he said with a grin.
Or maybe it's just hard to say no to the sheriff.
Rachael Anderson, who came through about at about 8:30 on her way to work, smiled and said she gave a couple bucks not only because United Way's a good organization, but because she drives a fairly distinct yellow Nissan Xterra.
Her motivation might not have been too far off the mark.
"We're writing license numbers down of people who don't give. They can pay me now or they can me later," he laughed, turning to flag down another car.
Many people, though, were only more than happy to help the sheriff out.
"It was great (being served by the Sheriff)," Barbara Shoestock said. "I read about it in the paper yesterday and wondered if I'd see him here. I never thought I'd be getting one from him though."
And as Winders worked to beat Goldsboro Mayor Al King's mark of $133 in tips, his deputies were only more than happy to take advantage of the chance to be served by the sheriff.
"Anything to help the boss. We do our best to support him," Capt. John Winstead said. "This is a good cause."
A good cause, the sheriff added, that was being made even better by the fact he seemed to be beating King's mark.
"I'm going to make Mayor King look bad," Winders said, laughing. "He don't know how to hustle."
Turning slightly more serious, he said he was real pleased with the turnout today.
"Everybody's being very generous," Winders said. "The United Way is a great organization."
The sheriff serving doughnuts was the third reward in United Way's "Bring It On Campaign" -- the final push toward its $1.44 million 2006 goal.
Right now the organization is 80 percent -- $1,152,000 -- of the way there.
The first two community rewards were state Rep. Louis Pate packing pickles at the Mt. Olive Pickle Co. and King serving coffee at Starbucks. The next two rewards are Cincinnati Reds manager and Goldsboro resident Jerry Narron reading to children during storyhour at the Wayne County Public Library's Goldsboro branch and United Way campaign chairman Geoff Hulse skydiving from 14,000 feet.
United Way officials are hoping to wrap up their effort by early January.
Donations can be dropped off at the United Way office on William Street or at one of several locations in Wayne County -- the Mount Olive Chamber of Commerce or RBC Centura Bank on Spence Avenue.
They can also be mailed to the United Way office, 308 N. William St., Goldsboro, N.C. 27530.