New Kent Sheriff's Aid to Biloxi

The New Kent Sheriff's Office help victims of Hurricane Katrina.

During 2005 a team of patrol officers from the New Kent Sheriff's Office will go to Biloxi Mississippi to relieve local police so that they can help their own families, many of whom have lost everything. NKSO Sgt. Steve Long came up with the project as a way for New Kent to help with the hurricane devastation in the Gulf.

You can help by making a donation of funds or needed supplies to help hurricane victims in Biloxi.

Supplies needed include new clothes, batteries, flashlights, toiletries, glasses repair kits. water, non-perishable food, toothbrushes, soap, underclothes, diapers, shoes, bug spray, and more. Ukrops has sent 2 truckloads of food and supplies to the Gulf and is helping with the trucks for New Kent supplies. (When you shop at Ukrops, thank them and ask them to open a store in New Kent.) Trucks will be leaving over the next few weeks as they are filled. If you would like to help load and pack supplies for transport contact Sandra Bowles or April Davidson at the Sheriff's Office 966-9500. Special thanks to Top Gun Trucking in Amelia and Copeland Trucking in Charles City for helping with trucks.

Money donations can be taken to any Citizens and Farmers Bank Branch and designated for the New Kent Sheriff's Office Katrina Relief Fund. Citizens and Farmers Bank will match up to $15,000 in donations made through them for flood and hurricane victims including the Sheriff's Fund. Your donations will be doubled.

For more information call the New Kent Sheriff's Office at 966-9500. No New Kent County funds are being used for this project. Aerial photos of New Orleans and the Gulf Coast

Update: 9/6 The first trailer load of supplies left for Biloxi, thanks to New Kent Sheriff's Office Lt. Charles Gardner.

Update: 9/7 Richmond Times Dispatch Article

Update: 9/7 A second truckload of supplies left the New Kent Sheriff's Office for Biloxi.

Update: 9/9 Lt. Charles Gardner reported that there is great need for towels, sleeping cots, sleeping bags, toiletries, wipes and Blankets.

Update: 9/10 Donations have been coming in steadily at the Sheriff's Department including a large U-Haul full of new women's clothing from Norm Talley and family who were closing their store in South Hill.

Update: 9/11 At 6 am the first team of New Kent deputies and dispatchers left for Biloxi. They arrived safely in Biloxi at 11 pm. Thanks Steve Long, Lee Bailey, Jamie Hamby, Farrar Howard, III, Brandon Jenkins, Jerry Simpson, Karen Johnson and Cheryl Rocha.

Update: 9/12 The New Kent team have set up camp near the Police Station and found a hot meal and showers at a local school.

Update: 9/13 NK Deputies are working security and have been paired with Biloxi Police giving them some needed time to check on their own homes and families. The dispatchers are also hard at work. Karen and Cheryl are each working 12 hour dispatcher shifts.

Update: 9/14 Another tractor trailer left for Biloxi

Update: 9/15 the New Kent Sheriff's Office is still accepting boxes of used clothing that is freshly washed and packed in boxes, taped and labeled on all sides. So far 4 tractor trailer loads of food have gone to Lafayette Louisiana, 3 trailer loads to Biloxi Miss, 1 is leaving for a church in Louisiana, and another trailer is being filled at the Sheriff's Office.
New Kent officers are on patrol in the hardest hit areas.

Update: 9/17 The team arrived back in New Kent early Saturday morning. Welcome Home! We're Proud of You!

Update: 9/22 Thanks to customers of Bill's Hot Dogs in Providence Forge who donated over $100 to the Sheriff's Katrina Relief Fund.

Update: 10/11 Another truck is filling up at the New Kent Sheriff's Office

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