BAKERSFIELD, Calif. — Despite the pandemic, a local fundraiser held by the California Highway Patrol was able to raise thousands of dollars for families of fallen officers.

Wednesday's drive-through event at the local Outback Steakhouse parking lot raised over $23,000 for the CHP Widows and Orphans Fund.

The event featured local CHP officers serving an outback lunch to those driving through and getting tips as donations for the fundraiser.

The new captain for the Bakersfield CHP area attending the event said he was impressed with how much this area is community-focused.

"See the public trust enhanced, and I think that's something the Bakersfield area is already doing but if I contribute to that, I will and I think our entire squad and our entire area is very public service-oriented and I like to improve that as well," said Levi Miller, the new captain of the CHP Bakersfield.

So far, in its 11 years of holding the fundraiser, the Bakersfield CHP has raised $300,000 for the CHP Widows and Orphans Fund.