BLUEFIELD, W.Va. -The Christmas spirit is here and with decorations being put up around your homes the Tazewell County Virginia Sheriff’s Office has released their new collectible Christmas ornament for 2024 featuring the K-9 unit.
These ornaments are being used to help fund their Project Lifesaver Program which is designed to protect those who suffer from cognitive disorders by giving them a bracelet with a locating device in case a disaster arises.
“I encourage anyone who has a family member or a loved one that needs this to please contact the sheriff’s office because the program really is successful, and the good thing about the program is it’s not only here in Tazewell County. If you have a loved one that’s a member of Project Lifesaver and you travel outside of Tazewell County and that locality that you’re at has Project Lifesaver and something unfortunately happens they will be able to find your loved one as well,” said Captain Jonathan Hankins for the Tazewell County Virginia Sheriff’s Office.
Since 1999, the program has helped law enforcement, fire and rescue and caregivers protect the people, and for Tazewell County this program runs completely off donations, so they created a Christmas tradition fundraiser.
“As of right now, we’re in our fourth year. So, we have number four and we’re going to try to continue it for several more years to see, you know, how it works. So far, it’s working great for the Project Lifesaver,” said Marcella Keene, a dispatcher for the Tazewell County 911 Center.
This project not only protects the people but also brings the community together.
“The community can get involved, you know, by purchasing one of these ornaments, you get to feel like you are part of this process and that’s what it’s about, community involvement, community engagement. Anytime that you can get the community involved and make them feel like they’re part of the organization. That’s what we want.”
The sheriff’s office says without their K-9 unit, they wouldn’t be as successful as they are and with their hard work, they were made to be the faces of the 2024 ornament.
Copyright 2024 WVVA. All rights reserved.