TAMPA, Fla. — Every March, the Girl Scouts of West Central Florida select women in the community to be honored at their Women of Distinction Luncheon.

What You Need To Know

  • Girls Scouts of West Central Florida will host its Women of Distinction Luncheon on March 8 at Armature Works

  • Hillsborough County Master Deputy Marilyn Alvarez was selected along with three other women with the honor

  • Alvarez has dedicated hours of service within her job and outside of her job

Mary Pat King is the CEO of the organization, and discussed the impact the women who are selected will have on young girls and the community.

“We have over 300 women who have received this honor in the Tampa Bay area, and often they serve as role models for our Girl Scouts, or they serve in other capacities for our organization,” she said.

The luncheon is taking place on International Women’s Day, March 8th. Four women will be honored, and one of them is Master Deputy Marilyn Alvarez.

Item after item, Alvarez prepares care packages for the senior community.

”A lot of times, our seniors maybe don’t get the attention and sometimes maybe people forget and yes, they love the items, but they love the company and they love the visit even more,” she said.

Giving back is something she’s been doing for 18 years as the head of the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Hispanic Advisory Council.

Alvarez says meeting people is one of the best parts of her job. She also acts as a liaison for the Hispanic community.

“Our main thing is to build that trust with them and let them know that we’re here for them as well,” Alvarez said.

She said that’s accomplished through events like "Cafecito Con Team HCSO," or speaking to schools about law enforcement. Alvarez’s work has led to her being recognized on March 8.

“It’s a little surreal because you see yourself now, and you’re on this list of women that I admired, so it really comes full circle, and it is such an amazing honor,” she said.

This isn’t the first time Alvarez has been honored — photos and awards line her office walls.

For her, they serve as a reminder of accomplishments during her years of service. But they also represent the community that still needs her help.

“The work is never done,” Alvarez said. “We have our Hispanic community that is continuously growing every day. The needs are continuously growing and changing and so it’s just keeping up with those changes.”

Whether she’s making a difference in a room full of people or door to door, Alvarez hopes she can continue serving the community and helping to facilitate a positive relationship between residents and law enforcement.