Florida Attorney General James Uthmeier is rolling out a statewide push to put Bexley Boxes, refillable comfort kits for very young children who witness violent crime, in every county and municipal law enforcement office. Announced this winter and backed by a $100,000 pledge from Walmart, the effort is designed to more than double the program’s current reach. Officials say the kits give first responders basic tools to calm traumatized kids until they can get back to their caregivers.
Background
The Bexley Box idea traces back to February 2022, when 2-year-old Bexley Bridegan spent hours at a Jacksonville police station after the murder of her father. Her mother responded by launching the Bridegan Foundation, which assembles trunks stocked with diapers, formula, snacks, stuffed animals, books and art supplies that volunteers deliver to law enforcement departments. Those donations have spread across Northeast Florida and into other states, according to the Bridegan Foundation.
Statewide push and funding
On Jan. 26, 2026, Uthmeier announced a statewide expansion and said Walmart had pledged $100,000 in financial and in-kind support to help place a Bexley Box in every county and municipal law enforcement agency, according to a release from the Attorney General's Office. He framed the expansion as a public-private partnership meant to standardize how first responders care for the youngest victims. “In Florida, protecting our kids is the number one priority,” Uthmeier said in the release.
Why now
Advocates say the timing reflects years of small, local efforts that never quite had statewide coordination or a clear plan for refills and logistics. Coverage of the rollout noted that organizers hope the Attorney General’s backing will speed distribution, grow the volunteer base that keeps trunks stocked and attract corporate donations to make the program sustainable, as reported by Florida’s Voice.
Communication misstep at FDLE
The push comes after an awkward moment over branding. In June 2024, the Florida Department of Law Enforcement briefly posted a web page using the phrase “Bexley Box” before pulling it down in response to public backlash. FDLE said the posting was made in error, and FDLE Director Mark Glass said the agency was reviewing how the notice went live, according to WTSP.
Local reactions
Sheriffs and local officials who already have the trunks in their buildings have largely praised the program, saying it fills a real gap in chaotic scenes and interview rooms where children often wait. The St. Johns County Sheriff’s Office, where the idea first took root, and other agencies told local outlets the kits have helped calm scared kids. At one milestone, Jacksonville’s Homeland Security Investigations office became the program’s 50th recipient, according to WOKV.
Officials say volunteers, donors and students will continue to help keep the trunks stocked and that state support should make refilling them far more predictable. The Attorney General’s release describes the current push as a first step toward potential national expansion. At the same time, critics who objected to last year’s FDLE posting argue that officials should be careful about how the program is described and administered, and state leaders say they are trying to keep that sensitivity in mind going forward, per the Attorney General's Office.
.jpg){kind=link}