The City of Wellford has received a Municipal Achievement Award for their Community Blessing Box Program. The city won in the public safety category.
Aiming to serve critical needs in its fast-growing Spartanburg County community while also engaging with residents in positive ways beyond the ordinary scope of law enforcement operations, the Wellford Police Department manages a group of five “blessing boxes” positioned throughout the community. These boxes enable residents in need to retrieve nonperishable food, hygiene items, socks and even cold weather kits. As the boxes are stocked entirely with donations, the police department collaborates with local groups to stock the needed items, including schools like the Global Academy of South Carolina and the Wellford Academy, the Breaking Bread Soup Kitchen, as well as local businesses and churches.
Because first responders gain firsthand insight into the problems faced by residents, they can identify pressing needs that the blessing box initiative can address. For example, local firefighters who were providing a resident with home installation of a carbon monoxide detector had observed that the resident was lacking in groceries. They alerted Wellford police, who immediately connected the resident with supplies of donated items.
After four years of operations, the department intends to continue growing the number of blessing boxes, highlighting the helpful and engaged role that the police department plays in the community. The blessing boxes have strengthened the ties between officers and the residents and organizations of Wellford.
“The Community Blessing Boxes in the City of Wellford emphasize how community policing can build trust and shows the value of a collaborative approach to address the needs of residents,” said Todd Glover, executive director for the Municipal Association.
The Municipal Association of SC initiated the Achievement Awards in 1987 to recognize and encourage innovations and excellence in local government.
###