Serving Barnwell County and it's neighbors since 1852
BCSO Chief Darlene Cook helps a student unzip their lunchbox.
Lance Corporal Brittany Glover with the S.C. Highway Patrol ties a student's shoelace.
Special guests were welcomed to lunchtime on Friday, February 16 at Macedonia Elementary-Middle School (MEMS).
Organized and led by MEMS school resource officer (SRO) Shawn Howze of the Barnwell County Sheriff’s Office (BCSO), Lunch Buddies allowed students to get to know local law enforcement officials in their own environment.
“I’ve been wanting to do something different to show the community a different aspect of law enforcement, to show the unity of law enforcement,” said SRO Howze, who joined the MEMS team in November 2023 after many years serving in law enforcement.
SRO Howze, Sheriff Steve Griffith, and the team at BCSO joined with officers from the S.C. Highway Patrol, the Second Circuit Solicitor’s Office, the S.C. Law Enforcement Division (SLED), and the Blackville Police Department (BPD) to hold this unifying event for students.
“Officers provided positive social interactions with Macedonia's students,” said BCSO in a statement. “The goal of this event is to strengthen relationships, to facilitate more positive contacts, and to provide relaxed, informal interventions in a friendly environment.”
SRO Howze hopes to bring Lunch Buddies annually to all MEMS students from Head Start to eighth grade.
