GREENSBORO, N.C. — Our first responders give so much of themselves to our communities each and every day but did you know that a lot of them have been using their own money to buy items of comfort to give to those in need at the scenes they show up to?
The United Way took notice and is doing something about it.
“September 1st through 30th, you know, United Way is leading a drive to equip first responders with items, socks, warm blankets, hygiene kits, and stuffed animals for kids um to provide community members experiencing hardship, homelessness and difficult moments. Um And the items will be given alongside uh information on 211.” Sam Vaughan of United Way said, “211 is the United Way hotline that connects people with support services. So in a moment, someone may be the most receptive to hearing how much our community understands that things are difficult that we need to lean and rely on one another. They can be connected to somebody ready to share about the offerings of support that our community has. That's the essence of this partnership.”
No one respects this drive more than the first responders themselves.
“So, day in and day out officers respond to calls that involve a multitude of things that involve Children and people of need, the donations that we'll receive through this partnership with United Way will help us kind of provide a sense of comfort to those uh victims, to those children, to those persons in need,” said Assistant Police Chief MJ Harris, “That would really just kind of take their mind off of the current situation that they're going through and provide that again, that sense of comfort from the police department.”
Greensboro Fire Chief Jim Robinson agrees. “So one item that we use frequently would be a teddy bear or some stuffed animal of a sense that we would typically take and put a police badge on the front of it. And we typically issue these to the Children that experience uh crime or just bad things. And if they're upset, the officer has an opportunity to go back to the car, retrieve this item and provide them that sense of comfort.”
The donation bins can be found at various fire department and police department stations as well as any business that wants to help.
For more information visit THIS WEBSITE.