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Spartanburg County offering transmitters for people with disabilities

LANDRUM—The Spartanburg County Sheriff’s Office is offering its residents with special needs a free opportunity to receive a transmitter. 

Spartanburg County Sheriff Chuck Wright held a press conference on Thursday regarding Project Lifesaver, which has been named the guardians of Alzheimer’s, autism and special needs wanderers. 

The transmitter is operated by radio frequencies, with Wright saying the average time of locating the person is 30 minutes. 

Project Lifesaver is an internationally operated program that attaches the person’s name to a database. Project Lifesaver has rescued 3,800 clients. 

Eligible people include people with cognitive disorders who are prone to wandering. 

The sheriff’s office is asking for donations for the program to help offset the costs. 

The sheriff said the goal for the sheriff’s office is to provide Project Lifesaver as a tool for the community with no out of pocket expenses because not ever family can provide this for their loved ones. The costs include a $325 start-up cost and battery and band changes several times a year, the sheriff said. 

Wright said Project Lifesaver is a cost effective program because it reduces the time, funds and manpower needed for search and rescue missions involving wandering individuals. 

The sheriff’s office is holding a fundraiser on Aug. 21 at 6:30 p.m. at Upward Star Center Turf Field (gates will open at 5:30 p.m.). The fundraiser will include southern gospel music featuring Soul Harvest and Blue Faith. 

For more information or to make a donation, call 864-809-7368. 

To see who qualifies for Project Life Saver, call 864-503-4576 to set up a screening. 

The Aug. 21 fundraiser will also benefit Emma June Kent, the daughter of Jonathan and Jamie Kent. Jonathan Kent is a deputy at the sheriff’s office and his daughter was diagnosed with an aggressive type of bone cancer. The sheriff said in February Emma June Kent had her right leg amputated and she is still fighting cancer. 

“She and her family have had to face a journey no one should ever have to face,” the sheriff said.