Local Realtors Deliver Holiday Gifts to Keys First Responders and Schools

Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Keys Real Estate Knight & Gardner Realty made a sweeping visit across the Florida Keys on November 26, 2025, bringing Publix gift cards and pumpkin pies to every police, fire and EMS station and each school resource officer serving Keys schools. The deliveries marked the second annual BHHS Cares Day, a local tradition supported by the Edward B. and Joan T. Knight Foundation.

The Knight Foundation was established in 2018 to honor the late couple’s legacy by supporting charitable, religious, educational and medical facilities that encourage the development of strong, moral, educated youth. Representatives said the gift cards and pies are intended to say thank you to crews who work long hours across the chain of islands, and to recognize school staff who help maintain safety and stability for students.

“This annual tradition is one of the most meaningful days of the year for us,” the company wrote in a press release. “It’s our way of saying thank you to the incredible men and women who protect and serve our Florida Keys community every single day. … We’re proud to stand alongside our local first responders, our Florida Keys neighbors and the amazing community that calls these islands home.”

For Monroe County residents, the visits offer more than seasonal comfort. Small, tangible acts of support can boost morale among emergency personnel whose shifts and responsibilities put them at the center of public health and safety responses. School resource officers are often the first point of contact for students in crisis, and reinforcing their role through community recognition can contribute to safer school environments.

The event also underscores broader policy and equity questions about sustained support for public safety and school services. Local philanthropy can fill immediate gaps, but volunteers and donations do not replace stable funding for mental health resources, staffing, and community health programs that reduce long term strain on responders and families. As Monroe County continues to navigate the demands of rural and island emergency care, the Cares Day visit is a reminder of both community solidarity and the need for systemic investment in public health infrastructure.

The BHHS Cares Day returned this year as a small but meaningful expression of gratitude, and as a prompt for conversations about how to ensure lasting support for the people who protect and serve the Florida Keys.