UPDATE: July 24 at 9:42 a.m.

The Tip a Firefighter event raised $6,860 this year said Katy's Mayor Pro Tem Durran Dowdle at the July 23 Katy City Council Meeting. He said next year's goal was to raise $7,000.

Originally posted at 4:14 p.m. on Friday, July 20

For the third year in a row, the Katy Fire Department held their annual Tip a Firefighter event at the Los Cucos Mexican Cafe located at 5831 Hwy. 90 in Katy. Firefighters accepted tips from patrons between 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. and will take tips again from 5-8 p.m. during dinner service Friday. Proceeds will go to Special Olympics Texas.

Katy Fire Chief Rusty Wilson said he organized similar fundraisers in Irving when he was chief there and wanted to bring the practice to Katy.

"I knew it was a win-win community event," Wilson said.

Wilson said he brought the idea for the event to his staff and management at Los Cucos and the firefighters and restaurant were on board for the event. The first Tip a Firefighter event was held in 2016 and another was held in 2017. Katy firefighters and paramedics raised $6,071 the first year and $6,710 in 2017.

"Even in the first year there was such a [great] response from the community," Wilson said.

Alejandra Lima, development director with Special Olympics Texas, said the event along with a similar event by peace officers July 26 at Texas Roadhouse locations throughout the state were important to the work Special Olympics Texas does to provide opportunities for special needs athletes. The organization hosts athletic competitions and provides equipment and uniforms to those athletes throughout the year.

"[First responders] are the backbone of our organization," Lima said.

Katy area residents who would like to participate in the event may still do so during the dinner shift from 5-8 p.m. Friday.