The Washington County Sheriff’s Office is asking Marietta-area residents to fill a jug — literally — for two of the hardest-working units in the department. The sheriff’s office is taking part in the Marietta Community Foundation’s 2026 Change-Makers Challenge, raising money for its K-9 and Mounted Units while competing against other local nonprofits for a share of $30,000 in additional prize money, the sheriff’s office announced.
Every dollar donated goes directly into the office’s K-9 and Mounted Unit fund, helping support the dogs, horses and handlers that serve Washington County. The top five participating nonprofits will share the $30,000 in prize money, and there is an additional $1,000 awarded for the best-decorated donation jug — a category the sheriff’s office is plainly aiming at with its own decorated jug.
Giving is deliberately simple. Supporters can stop by the Marietta Community Foundation at 100 Putnam Street in Marietta and drop a donation into the sheriff’s office jug in person, or donate electronically through the foundation’s PayPal link by selecting “Washington County Sheriff’s Office” from the drop-down menu, according to the announcement.
K-9 and mounted units are easy for the public to love, but they are also working units. Sheriff’s K-9 teams support searches, tracking and patrol work across a largely rural county, while mounted deputies provide a visible, approachable presence at community events and gatherings throughout the year. Both programs carry real costs — animals, training, equipment and care — that community fundraising helps cover.
“This is an opportunity for us to come together and support two programs that do so much for our agency and community,” the sheriff’s office wrote in its announcement. “Whether it’s a few dollars or more, every contribution makes a difference.”
The Change-Makers Challenge is one of the Marietta Community Foundation’s signature community giving efforts, turning friendly competition among local organizations into matching-style momentum — the more a group raises, the better its shot at finishing in the top five and taking home a share of the prize pool.
The deadline to donate is Monday, November 16, 2026, so the sheriff’s office is asking supporters not to wait. “Let’s fill those jugs!” the office wrote — a small ask, with four-legged deputies on the receiving end.