Wilson County is asking locals to help pick up the tab for rifle-rated ballistic protection for the school resource officers who patrol area campuses. The sheriff’s office is stressing that the push is voluntary, framing it as a way to boost on-campus safety for students, teachers and staff. Local nonprofits Shield 616 and The Charlie Daniels Journey Home Project are teaming up to handle the fundraising and equipment support.
In a Facebook post on Thursday, the Wilson County Sheriff’s Office shared links to a Shield 616 fundraiser for school resource officers and to The Charlie Daniels Journey Home Project’s donation page, asking residents to chip in, according to Wilson County Sheriff's Office. The post underscored that the effort is voluntary and described SROs as having “a mission to protect the students, teachers, and staff entrusted to their care,” per the same announcement. The sheriff’s office included direct donation links for anyone ready to contribute.
What The Fundraiser Will Buy
The Shield 616 fundraiser page prices each rifle-rated vest at $2,500 and sets a $95,000 goal to fully outfit 38 school resource officers across the district, according to Shield 616. The page also spells out which elementary, middle and high schools are slated for coverage, listing campuses in Lebanon, Mt. Juliet and other parts of Wilson County.
Where The Push Began
The new effort to include SROs comes on the heels of a May 26 presentation in which The Charlie Daniels Journey Home Project and Shield 616 donated advanced body armor to Wilson County deputies. The groups said that earlier gift was worth more than $150,000, as reported by AristoPR. David Corlew, president of the Journey Home Project, said the organization “look[s] forward to expanding this mission” to cover school resource officers as well, according to the same statement.
Local Context And Timing
Wilson County Schools reports that its SRO program places at least one, and in some cases two, full-time deputies in schools every school day as part of the district’s emergency operations and safety plans, according to Wilson County Schools. With a new school year around the corner, county officials and the partnering nonprofits are casting the fundraiser as a way to make sure SROs have rifle-rated protection ready to go on day one.
How To Give
Residents who want to help can donate through Shield 616 or via The Charlie Daniels Journey Home Project, both of which are linked in the sheriff’s post. Shield 616’s fundraiser page also includes mailing instructions for checks and a list of the schools the campaign aims to cover.
