Project H.O.P.E. News Release

The Richland County Coroner’s Office and the Richland County Sheriff’s Department know all too well how important it is to stay safe during this COVID-19 pandemic. Richland County Coroner Gary Watts and Sheriff Leon Lott are passing out “Senior Care Relief Bags” to assist in some small way. The Sheriff and Coroner both know that times are pretty tough right now, especially for our seniors who we like to call our precious elderly.  

These bags include various items to include hand sanitizer, soap, toilet tissue, paper towels, water, water bottles, lotion, toothpaste, toothbrushes, and so much more. The Richland County Coroner’s Foundation provided a way to fill these bags with much needed essentials along with the Sheriff’s Department, Bio One, Free Times, Sharing Hope, Ad Street, SC Restaurant and Lodging Association, Residence Inn NE, Springhill Suites Vista, Doubletree by Hilton, New Light Beulah Baptist Church, The Art of Dentistry Dr. Greg Wych, Building Better Communities, and AARP Columbia Midlands Chapter. Without the help of these community partners we couldn’t accomplish the mission to assist the citizens of Richland County.

Coroner Gary Watts stated that we wanted to put together some comfort items that are hard to find these days to help our senior citizens. The Richland County Sheriff’s Department has a unit set up exclusively to care for our seniors, “Project H.O.P.E.” Helping Our Precious Elderly.  Their mission is to check on our seniors daily through phone calls and visits to find out their needs and make sure they are ok. Sheriff Leon Lott stated that we are all going through some difficult times but together we will defeat this virus. 

Please remember to practice social distancing, wash your hands, wear your mask if you have to go outside, use hand sanitizer if you can’t get to soap and water, and stay home. The Coroner and the Sheriff want you to know that we must protect each other and the only way to achieve that is by following the safety guidelines set before us. Stay safe and protect yourself and those around you!