When Liberty County Sheriff Steve Sikes suggested starting Project Lifesaver in Liberty County two years ago deputy Capt. David Edwards adopted the program.
Last Thursday Edwards gave Project Lifesaver another boost, a check for $500. Edwards and his new wife Beverly had asked for donations to the project in lieu of wedding gifts.
The couple met two years ago and wed April 27 on Jekyll Island.
“We pretty much have everything we need,” Edwards said, adding his wife suggested asking for donations instead of gifts. “We started early on and let everyone, who was planning on attending the wedding, know and they brought checks and money.”
Beverly Edwards said she didn’t know about Project Lifesaver until she met her future husband. She said she recognized the importance of the program and was speaking to a co-worker about it some time ago.
“And my co-worker, for her 50th birthday last year, came up with the idea of having people donate instead of gifts and I thought it was such a great idea and gesture,” Edwards said. “My friend had an experience in her past where a friend of hers had wandered off and in fact it had a sad ending, she was actually found dead and my friend never forgot that.”
Capt. Edwards said the funds could help people who need a specialized tracking device, primarily people with autism, dementia and Alzheimer’s. If someone wearing the device, worn on the wrist or ankle, wanders off it is activated and officers are able to track the missing person.
The initial purchase of a tracking bracelet is $300.
“I get so many calls… And I explain to people this is how much it is and this is what we are going to do for you… It’s pretty much, ‘I’ll call you don’t call me,’ because they can’t afford it,” the captain explained. “And I want to encourage everyone to contact us so we can help them out. This money is enough to almost cover two bracelets.”
Currently there are eight people registered with Project Lifesaver in the county. Officers will check the devices’ batteries monthly and clients can check them daily.
For more information, call Edwards at 408-3106 or 876-4555.