Retired Richland County deputy sheriffs and others making deliveries
By W. Thomas Smith Jr.
Less than one day after delivering 80 Thanksgiving Week dinners to senior citizens across Columbia and the Midlands, the Richland County Sheriff’s Department’s (RCSD) Project H.O.P.E. was at it again: This time collecting 300 “love bags” – including socks, hand-sanitizers, handi-wipes, facemasks, gloves, and giant candy canes – for delivery to seniors, countywide.
The bags were collected at the home of Project H.O.P.E.’s Katie Bolden by other members of Project H.O.P.E., Tues., Nov. 24, for delivery to seniors by mid-December.
Each bag also included a Christmas ornament which was hand-designed by Konni Smith and Donna Rhoades, also members of Project H.O.P.E. The clear glass ornaments were filled with a mixture of glue and colored glitter then hand-inscribed with the word, ‘Hope!’
“This is a perfect demonstration of the kind of love Project H.O.P.E. brings to our seniors throughout the year,” said Richland County Sheriff Leon Lott. “And it was because of the generosity found within our communities that our volunteers were able to raise the $2,000 necessary to make it all happen.”
Project H.O.P.E. (HELPING OUR PRECIOUS ELDERLY) is an RCSD community outreach program that services approximately 600 elderly citizens with everything from replacing light bulbs and smoke detectors in homes to educating seniors about ongoing telephone scams.
– Pictured are members of RCSD’s Project H.O.P.E. with Sheriff Lott (third from left).