Hunger does not take a spring break.

That’s why last week, West Columbia Police Officers India Taylor, Robin Rivers, and Eugene Hammill spent the three days preparing and delivering 30 Spring Break Food boxes. The food was taken to families in need throughout West Columbia.

“Sometimes the best meals the kids get is at school,” said West Columbia Assistant Police Chief Scott Morrison. “And during spring break they may not get three square meals.”

Morrison also said officers are out in the community on a daily basis and they get to see first-hand who may not be getting enough to eat. He said this year the ability to access enough food has been hindered even more because of the “stay home” order for students amid the coronravirus crisis.

Officers Taylor and Rivers are school resource officers. Taylor is at Saluda River Academy for the Arts and Rivers is at Riverbank Elementary. So the food drop-off was a chance for the SROs to see the students they had been missing, but from a distance. The officers had to drop the food off on the porch, knock on the door, and then step away in accordance with the social distancing policy. 

“The kids could come out and wave at the officers,” said Morrison. “It was special. It gave both of them a chance to see each other. They liked that interaction. It was good for all of them.”

To collect the food, members of the West Columbia Police Department held food drives at BI-LO SuperSaver and Walmart on Augusta on Augusta Road.

The officers thanked the stores for allowing the food drive and all of the shoppers who donated.