Harvest Hope Food Bank and Heroes In Blue launch Greg’s Groceries
August 21, 2017
Harvest Hope Food Bank and Heroes In Blue will be partnering for the launch of Greg’s Groceries on Wednesday, August 23rd at Harvest Hope’s Shop Road location, with a press conference to be held at 10:00am. The event will feature representatives from Heroes In Blue, Harvest Hope Food Bank, Columbia Police Department and Swansea Police Department, who will speak on the importance of community policing. Representatives from each organization will participate in packing a Greg’s Groceries box following the press conference.
Greg’s Groceries is a program created by Heroes In Blue, in conjunction with Harvest Hope Food Bank. The program is designed to provide police departments with boxes of shelf stable food to be placed into patrol cars so that the officers can address hunger as they encounter it in their communities. Greg’s Groceries is in a pilot state, with Columbia Police Department and Swansea Police Department serving as the initial partners. Greg’s Groceries is named in honor of the memory of Greg Alia, a Forest Acres Police Officer who was killed in the line of duty in 2015. August 23rd marks what would have been Alia’s 34th birthday. His parents, Dr. and Mrs. Alia, will be among the volunteers packing the boxes.
“Our Heroes In Blue team believes that true change happens when we bridge our law enforcement and community resources to make a difference,” Heroes In Blue President Kassy Alia shared. “We have heard time and time again about how police come across families who are hungry. Too often, their only choice is to engage emergency custody to help the family. But what if there was another option? Greg’s Groceries is that option. By providing police with the resources they need to make a positive difference, we are showing just how powerful we can be when we join together to support one another.”
“Harvest Hope shares a bond with law enforcement in that we often see people during some of the worst times of their life. Being able to provide help to those who are hungry during the times when they are most in need is a blessing,” said Denise Holland, CEO of Harvest Hope Food Bank. “We are honored to partner with Heroes In Blue for this program.”
“As an agency dedicated to 21st century policing, we are excited to collaborate as a pilot site for the Greg’s Groceries program,” stated Columbia Police Chief Skip Holbrook. “This partnership will provide us with an opportunity to help those in need and continue to build relationships within the community.
Individuals who are interested in providing donations or who wish to volunteer should visit www.harvesthope.org or call 803-254-4432. Donations may also be made to Heroes In Blue at www.heroesinblue.net.
Harvest Hope Food Bank was founded in 1981 as the result of a shared vision of business leaders and the faith community who set out to provide for the hungry in Columbia. Harvest Hope distributed over 28 million pounds of food last year and feeds approximately 50,000 people a week. Their main offices are located in Columbia, but the organization also has satellite locations in Greenville and Florence.
Heroes in Blue is driven by the voices of diverse members of the community who support positive policing efforts and who advocate for strengthened unity between community and police. Our board includes representatives from law enforcement and community. We are proud of our partnerships with law enforcement leadership and community organizations in the Midlands region of South Carolina. We have a growing base of volunteers who are passionate about being a force for positive change. Our efforts are currently based in Columbia, S.C. and surrounding areas and we have a vision to grow.
