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C O M P A S S I O N A T E A C T S P R O G R A M

C O V I D - 1 9 R E S P O N S E

I M P L E M E N T A T I O N G U I D E

P r e p a r e d by s e r v e & c o n n e c t

PURPOSE

At Serve & Connect, we believe in the power of partnerships for driving change and

improving lives. As our nation becomes increasingly impacted by COVID-19

(coronavirus), it is Serve & Connect’s privilege to support our community’s officers

as they support our community. 

Through our Compassionate Acts Program (CAP), we are offering emergency

supplies, including non-perishable food packages and hygiene supplies, to our

partner agencies to help the most vulnerable in our communities. The purpose of

this manual is to provide guidance to police on the implementation of CAP for

COVID-19.

ABOUT SERVE & CONNECT

SServe & Connect is a South Carolina non-profit dedicated to igniting positive

change through police and community partnerships. Working directly with law

enforcement, community stakeholders, and citizen leaders, we seek to improve

neighborhoods challenged by poverty, crime, and neglect by building trust,

optimizing collaboration, and fostering a shared sense of pride. Serve & Connect

was founded by Kassy Alia Ray in honor of her husband, Officer Greg Alia, who was

killed in the line of duty on September 30, 2015.

ABOUT COMPASSIONATE ACTS

PROGRAM

The primary purpose of CAP is to increase positive non-enforcement interactions

between police and populations in need. By providing police with resources and

support to address residents in need, CAP creates opportunities for trust-building

between police and community and magnifies positive police impact. 

Police are often the front-line to people in need. Research shows that police can

prevent issues related to community safety by providing resources that help

communities navigate challenges associated with poverty. However, there is a gap

between what we know works regarding effective community policing practices

and what is implemented. This is due, in part, to limited resources available to

police departments for community outreach. In a statewide survey we conducted

by 2017, officers indicated that while 93% agreed that community policing was

important to them, only 27% indicated that they had the resources necessary to

help people in need. CAP seeks to fill this gap by providing tools to police to help

people in need. Whether providing boxes of non-perishable food to people

experiencing hunger or warm winter coats on cold winter nights, CAP resources

enhance the ability of police to redirect people in crisis to local resources that can

promote positive long-term outcomes.

CAP has demonstrated promise as a best practice for community policing. Since we

launched the program in 2017, we have engaged twenty-one departments

statewide. This includes engaging departments in Greg’s Groceries, our flagship

CAP initiative which provides boxes of nonperishable food to police to deliver to

people experiencing hunger. Each box of food contains enough food to feed a family

of four for a week. In just under three years, over 37,000 meals have been delivered

by police to individuals living in food insecure communities. Feedback

from recipients indicates that 88% of individuals receiving CAP resources agree

that the program helps to build trust with police. Police also find value in the

program, with 100% indicating that they agree/strongly agree that CAP: a)

resources are useful for connecting with community; b) increase number of

resources/tools available for connecting with community; c) help foster new

connections with the community and d) help identify new ways to assist

community.

SERVE & CONNECT'S COVID-19

RESPONSE

Serve & Connect is motivated by a passion to create a positive synergy in divided

communities by utilizing common ground to shift mindsets and eliminate

misconceptions. All lives in our communities, however, are often disrupted by

unexpected events that are beyond our control, such as accidents, natural

disasters and illness. These disruptions to our communal lives challenge us all to

respond. As our communities become increasingly impacted by COVID-19

(coronavirus), we are providing our police partners with valuable resources to help

the most vulnerable within our communities.

During this challenging situation, vital supplies become harder to obtain. Our

communities' most vulnerable populations are at greater risk now more than ever.

As police officers are able to stand on the frontlines with communities in need,

Serve & Connect wants to support our community officers as they support our

communities. It is Serve & Connect’s privilege to provide resources through our

Compassionate Acts Program to help in this unexpected time of need.

RESOURCES AVAILABLE

Breakfast Kit: (1) granola bar, (1) oatmeal pack, and (1) peanut butter cup

Dinner Kit: (1) Mac and Cheese box, (1) rice package, and (1) canned chicken

Day for One Kit: (2) granola bars, (1) oatmeal package, and (1) Mac and Cheese

box

Family Kit: (2) granola bars, (2) oatmeal packages, (1) Mac and Cheese box, (1)

rice package, (1) canned chicken, and (1) peanut butter cup

Toilet paper

Tissues

Bars of soap

At this time, we are offering support to departments serving our target counties,

including: Richland, Lexington, Orangeburg, Kershaw, and Fairfield counties. 

We are offering the following resources (while supplies last):

Emergency Food Kits

Pre-packaged non-perishable food kits designed to meet emergency needs related

to hunger. Packages are designed to meet people experiencing different needs and

include:

Condensed milk, pre-packaged muffins, and bread are also available. 

Hygiene Supplies

Recognizing that many stores are running low on supplies needed for basic

hygiene, we have a limited supply of the following:

DISTRIBUTION GUIDELINES

Officer safety is critically important during this time. With that in mind, we have

crafted implementation guidelines to support distribution within your

communities.  

Notifying Your Agency

We recommend informing officers and staff that your department has COVID

emergency resources available. This will increase the effectiveness of delivery and

support. To assist you in doing so, we have crafted a draft email (Appendix I). We

have also designed a flyer that may be posted at your agency (Appendix II). We

recommend posting this flyer above where resources are stored.

Notifying Your Community

There may be a benefit to sharing with your community about the availability of

resources. They may be able to help identify people in need, and it may also

communicate how your agency is proactively seeking to support the community.

At the same time, it is important to convey that these are limited resources

intended strictly for emergencies. We have crafted sample language in Appendix

III.

Identifying a Need

Serve & Connect values the knowledge and understanding officers have for the

community that they serve. We believe that by equipping our officers to help

people in crisis, we will be able to reach people experiencing the greatest needs

during the pandemic.

Resources are primarily intended to support officers in the event that they come

into contact with someone in crisis. For instance, an officer may encounter a

Individuals/families with transportation challenges. In some counties there

could be a considerable distance between a family and the closest store or

market. Even in places that are more urban, accessing local resources, including

food banks, can be a challenge depending on transportation availability.

Families or individuals that live alone where they require a 3rd party caretaker

to provide them with vital aid. In an event where the caretaker themselves are

under quarantine, that lifeline for those vulnerable individuals may not be

currently provided.

Individuals/families that have recurring domestic issues, especially if children

involved in the situation, they possibly could not be receiving vital supplies

during this time. 

Families, especially with children involved, that struggle with either one or both

parents being repeat offenders of periods of incarceration. Those children may

have limited access to vital supplies during this time.

Curb-side pick-up at your department

Distribution through the window of your patrol car

Leave the resources on the doorstep and notify the individual upon delivery

family in need while responding to a call at a home. We also recognize that officers

have first-hand knowledge of people in need.

Some examples include:

Limiting social contact is essential during this time. With that in mind,

we do not advise seeking out people to help, but rather using these

resources for emergencies that emerge through direct contact or via

referrals.  

Distributing Safely

Officer safety is critically important during this time. If a need is identified

through a call or referral, we recommend the following practices for distribution:

We encourage agencies to work with identified neighborhood/community leaders

who may be able to screen families in need and support safe distribution. We have

provided an email template in Appendix IV to assist you in outreach as well as a

flyer to describe safe distribution for partners.  

Avoid hand shakes and wash hands often.

Utilize your tissue or elbow if you have to cough.

Avoid touching your face.

Stay at least 3-6ft apart from others.

We also recommend following guidelines for self-care during this time:

Providing Feedback

Measuring our impact is important in helping us identify how we can improve our

services to best support our police partners. With this in mind, we ask that officers

please fill out a brief online survey after distributing resources by visiting our

website serveandconnect.net/cap. We are happy to share results with your agency. 

Requesting Additional Resources

In the event that your agency is in need of additional resources or has questions,

please reach out to us.

Kassy Alia Ray

CEO & Founder

Serve & Connect

Cell: (301) 908-2635

Email: [email protected]

We are deeply thankful for the sacrifice you and your officers make everyday to

serve our communities. Thank you for keeping our communities safe and for being

on the front-line of the coronavirus pandemic.

APPENDIX I.Email Template for Notifying Your Agency

Breakfast Kit: (1) granola bar, (1) oatmeal pack, and (1) peanut butter cupDinner Kit: (1) Mac and Cheese box, (1) rice package, and (1) canned chickenDay for One Kit: (2) granola bars, (1) oatmeal package, and (1) Mac and Cheese boxFamily Kit: (2) granola bars, (2) oatmeal packages, (1) Mac and Cheese box, (1) ricepackage, (1) canned chicken, and (1) peanut butter cup

Toilet paperTissuesBars of soap

We have received resources from Serve & Connect to support community members inneed during the coronavirus pandemic. This email describes the resources and how theymay be used by our department. ABOUT SERVE & CONNECT: Serve & Connect is a South Carolina non-profit dedicated tothe mission of igniting positive change through police and community partnership. It wasfounded by Kassy Alia Ray, the widow of Greg Alia, the Forest Acres officer who was killedin 2015.  COVID-19 RESPONSE: As our communities become increasingly impacted by COVID-19(coronavirus), vital supplies become harder to obtain. Our communities' most vulnerablepopulations are at greater risk now more than ever. This can increase risk and may haveresidual impacts on crime. As police officers are able to stand on the frontlines withcommunities in need, Serve & Connect wants to support officers as they support ourcommunities. It is Serve & Connect’s privilege to provide resources through theirCompassionate Acts Program to help in this unexpected time of need.  RESOURCES AVAILABLE: At this time, Serve & Connect is offering support todepartments serving their target counties, including: Richland, Lexington, Orangeburg,Kershaw, and Fairfield counties.  Resources offered include (while supplies last):Emergency Food KitsPre-packaged non-perishable food kits designed to meet emergencyneeds related to hunger. Packages are designed to meet people experiencing differentneeds and include:

Condensed milk, pre-packaged muffins, and bread are also available.  Hygiene SuppliesRecognizing that many stores are running low on supplies needed for basic hygiene, wehave a limited supply of the following:

Individuals/families with transportation challenges. In some counties there could be aconsiderable distance between a family and the closest store or market. Even in placesthat are more urban, accessing local resources, including food banks, can be a challengedepending on transportation availability.Families or individuals that live alone where they require a 3rd party caretaker toprovide them with vital aid. In an event where the caretaker themselves are underquarantine, that lifeline for those vulnerable individuals may not be currently provided. Individuals/families that have recurring domestic issues, especially if children involvedin the situation, they possibly could not be receiving vital supplies during this time. Families, especially with children involved, that struggle with either one or bothparents being repeat offenders of periods of incarceration. Those children may havelimited access to vital supplies during this time.  

Curb-side pick-up at our departmentDistribution through the window of your patrol car Leave the resources on the doorstep and notify the individual upon delivery

IDENTIFYING NEEDS: Resources are primarily intended to support officers in the eventthat they come into contact with someone in crisis. For instance, an officer may encountera family in need while responding to a call at a home.  Officers also have first-hand knowledge of people in need. Some examples include:

Limiting social contact is essential during this time. With that in mind, we do not advise seeking out

people to help, but rather using these resources for emergencies that emerge through direct contact

or via referrals. 

DISTRIBUTION: Officer safety is critically important during this time. If a need isidentified through a call or referral, we recommend the following practices fordistribution:

Once a package has been delivered, please complete a brief survey by visitinghttp://serveandconnect.net/cap/. Should you have questions or concerns, you may reach out to Serve & Connect using thecontact information below:

Kassy Alia RayCEO & Founder

Serve & ConnectCell: (301) 908-2635

Email: [email protected]

APPENDIX II.Flyer for Notifying Your Agency

APPENDIX III.Messaging for Community

Sample language for social media is listed below for informing yourcommunity of your participation in Serve & Connect's COVID-19 EmergencyResponse. Social Post 1: Caring for our community remains our top priority during the coronaviruspandemic. We have partnered with Serve & Connect to ensure our officers are equippedwith emergency resources, including non-perishable food products and hygiene supplies,to assist people most in need. // Photo suggestion - picture of an officer holding anemergency food kit Social Post 2: We recognize that obtaining critical supplies may be difficult for some of ourmost in need residents during COVID-19. If you know of someone in crisis, contact ourdepartment to request an emergency food kit. We have a limited supply of non-perishablefood to assist people in crisis and it is our honor to serve. // Photo suggestion - picture offood kit Social Post 3: Our officers are using creative ways to build community during this time ofsocial distancing. They are providing emergency supplies to residents in need safely,ensuring that they feel cared for and supported. // Photo suggestion - picture of an officerdelivering a package on a door step As packages are delivered, we encourage you to share those stories and are happy to helpyou craft language that maintains the anonymity of the recipient while spreading positivestories. We are also happy to provide other guidance for communication during this time. 

APPENDIX IV.Email Template for Notifying CommunityPartners

Call the individual in need to inform them that you will be delivering the emergencypackage.Leave the resources on the front door step. Walk at least 6 ft away from the door step. Call the individual to inform them that the package is outside their door.

Avoid hand shakes and wash hands often.Utilize your tissue or elbow if you have to cough.Avoid touching your face.Stay at least 3-6ft apart from others.

Our agency remains committed to serving community during the coronavirus pandemic.With this in mind, we have partnered with a non-profit organization, Serve & Connect, tosecure emergency supplies to help people in crisis. We are reaching out to request your help. We want to ensure that our limited supply ofresources, including non-perishable food kits and hygiene supplies (toilet paper, tissue,soap) are delivered to people most in need. As a trusted leader in our community, you mayknow members in our community who are most vulnerable during this time. Should you identify a resident in need, please contact our agency and request to speak with[INSERT NAME OF OFFICER]. We will then work with you to ensure safe delivery. In the event that delivery is facilitated by you or another representative in yourcommunity, we recommend the following for safe delivery:

1.

2.3.4.

We encourage following CDC guidelines for safety during this time, including:

Thank you for your partnership and service to our community. We believe that together,we are better.