DARLINGTON — Following the unprecedented and devastating impact from Hurricane Ida on the State of Louisiana and the Gulf Coast, the Wisconsin Badger State Sheriffs’ Association (BSSA) has implemented the Sheriffs Adopting Sheriffs program to help Sheriffs employees in the State of Louisiana.
The Sheriffs Adopting Sheriffs relief project is designed to help Sheriffs employees and their families who have been personally impacted by this natural disaster. The relief project was recently authorized by BSSA president, Sheriff Nate Dreckman of Grant County. “When these types of disasters occur,” said Sheriff Dreckman, “too often lost in the mix of the disaster is the fact that Sheriff’s emergency responders themselves suffer a major personal and family loss while still being expected to go to work, do their jobs and continue to rescue and help others in need.”
The BSSA Sheriffs Adopting Sheriffs program, said Dreckman, is designed to bring a little direct relief to those Sheriff’s employees who leave their families during times of major emergencies and go to work helping others.
In 2012, the BSSA activated this program following hurricane Sandy and helped four Sheriffs employees at the Union County Sheriff’s Office in the State of New Jersey. According to BSSA Executive Director, Dean C. Meyer, the Sheriffs Adopting Sheriffs program primarily solicits specific donations from Sheriff’s personnel and their families. Meyer said that is being done again this year, but because the need following Hurricane Ida is so great in Louisiana, this year’s program efforts are being expanded to give the citizens, businesses and other organizations the opportunity to participate and help out.
Because of the magnitude of damage caused by Hurricane Ida, said Sheriff Dreckman, the BSSA is encouraging each County Sheriff to also reach out to the citizens, business and civic organizations in their county and provide an opportunity for them to participate in this effort.
“There are nearly 5.8 million people living in our great state,” said Dreckman. “Think what could be raised if every adult could walk into their County Sheriff’s Office and donate just $5. Think what could be raised if every business in the state sent a check for just $25 to their County Sheriff. Think what could be raised if every type of civic organization in the state made a $50 contribution to the Sheriff’s Adopting Sheriffs program.”
The Sheriff’s Adopting Sheriffs program will run in each county until Oct. 15th. Anyone seeking additional information is encouraged to contact their County Sheriff or the BSSA.
