Vigilance gets strength in numbers…

A new neighborhood watch program for Florence will be introduced this evening. Florence Police Auxiliary volunteer Andi Belk says they’re taking a different approach.
Belk– “Instead of forming each individual little group in the neighborhood we’re going to use all the neighborhoods together. We’re going to meet together, learn together and support each other. It’s going to be marvelous.”

Belk is the Neighborhood Watch Coordinator for Florence. She says under the old method, each neighborhood would form an autonomous group with little outside assistance.
Belk – “But not anymore. We realize that, hey, you know what happens is they, the group gets tired, you know, and they lose the support and the enthusiasm.”

She’s already shown that by forming under an umbrella organization, they can provide support and services by combining requests.
Belk – “Got a grant from the Western Lane Community Foundation, so we can actually supply some signs and all of the materials for each group now.”

Belk and other police volunteers, along with Police Chief Maury Sanders, will be kicking off the new neighborhood watch program during National Night Out observances in Florence, six pm, at the Florence Events Center.