Police accept donations, lunch

Residents at an Evans retirement community showed their appreciation for law enforcement Tuesday with a lunch in honor of Columbia County sheriff's deputies and by making a donation of school supplies for abused children.

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The retirees at Washington Commons Retirement Residence were hosts for 11 deputies and presented police with donations for county children under the care of the Georgia Department of Family and Children Services. The residents collected notebooks, coloring books, paper, pens, pencils and even teddy bears for abused children displaced by domestic violence, said Holley Howard, an activities director at Washington Commons.

The event was part of Washington Commons' celebration of National Police Week. Howard said residents were urged to show their appreciation and even hug the deputies.

Howard said having the deputies at the community "energizes the conversation and we are all grateful for what police do and it allows the residents to show appreciation for what they do."

Dorothy Perryman, a resident who was originally from Thomson, said she donated a favorite teddy bear to the drive to comfort a child.

"It was one my son had when he was small," she said. Her lunch companion, Helen Tucker, a retired third-grade teacher, said she taught pupils with problems at home during her career.

"You try to help out everybody you can," Tucker said.

Sheriff's Lt. Andy Shedd said the deputies at the luncheon were grateful for the recognition.

"So many times in our job we're faced with the negatives of society," he said. "It's so rewarding to be appreciated and to be able to interact with our residents on a positive note."