Category: Greg’s Groceries

Hundreds of officers from across the Carolinas joined community volunteers to pack 2,000 Greg’s Groceries boxes at the South Carolina Criminal Justice Academy, in partnership with Walmart. The energy, teamwork, and shared commitm

ent to service made the day one to remember.

We were honored to welcome Lieutenant Governor Pamela Evette and South Carolina Criminal Justice Academy Director Jackie Swindler as guest speakers. Their support underscores the growing impact of Greg’s Groceries and the vital role law enforcement plays in building stronger, safer communities.

Since its founding in 2017, Greg’s Groceries has distributed more than 27,000 boxes through partnerships with over 80 agencies. In 2025 alone, officers have already packed more than 5,000 boxes, with over 3,000 distributed so far this year.

Following this week’s event, our grand total now stands at 29,340 boxes packed — the equivalent of more than two million meals delivered to families across the Carolinas.

During the event, we were proud to recognize our 2025 Agency of the Year and Officer of the Year award recipients:

Agency of the Year Winners

• Small Agency: Hartsville Police Department
• Medium Agency: Kershaw County Sheriff’s Office
• Large Agency: South Carolina Department of Probation, Parole & Pardon Services

Officer of the Year Winners

• Small Agency: Deputy Leslie Lawson, Colleton County Sheriff’s Office
• Medium Agency: Captain Shannon Ellenburg, Pickens County Sheriff’s Office
• Large Agency: Victim’s Advocate Selena Gann, Greenville Police Department

We were also humbled to receive the U.S. Marshals Citizen of the Year Award, a recognition that reflects the dedication of our entire Serve & Connect team and the strength of our partnerships statewide.

A heartfelt thank you to all of our sponsors for your generous support — this work would not be possible without you. And a special thank you to South Carolina DNR for cooking lunch for everyone after the event.

Together, we’re creating lasting connections and nourishing communities across the Carolinas. Thank you for being part of this mission.

Nine years ago, the Town of Lexington Police Department dreamed of creating a meaningful way to give back to the community. What began as a local effort has since grown beyond county lines—reaching families across Lexington, Richland, and Florence.

This year, that dream came to life in a powerful way. Together, we distributed 1,000 holiday-themed Greg’s Groceries boxes, and—thanks to the incredible generosity of Molina Healthcare—1,500 frozen turkeys were placed into the hands of families who needed them most.

Throughout these events, law enforcement officers had the chance to meet families face-to-face, listen to their stories, and offer support ahead of the holiday season. These moments of connection are at the heart of what makes Greg’s Groceries so special.

We extend our deepest gratitude to everyone who made these events possible, including Molina Healthcare, South Carolina Automobile Dealers Association, Walmart, Palmetto Citizens Federal Credit Union, Palmetto Roofing & Solar, Forest Lake Presbyterian Church, and King Cadillac of Florence.

A heartfelt thank-you also goes to our dedicated law enforcement partners, who brought compassion and care to every box packed and every turkey delivered: Town of Lexington Police Department, Cayce Police Department, West Columbia Police Department, Lexington County Sheriff’s Department, Columbia Police Department, Forest Acres Police Department, SLED, Richland County Sheriff’s Department, South Carolina Department of Public Safety, and Florence Police Department.

We would also like to thank the resource providers who brought important information for families in need during these events; including but not limited to: New Creation Baptist Church, Rebound Behavioral Health Hospital, Three Rivers Midlands, Choices Counseling and Advocacy Center, LLC, Central South Carolina Habitat for Humanity, South Carolina Department of Insurance, Lexington County Public Library, Palmetto Pathways Academy, LRADAC, Our Place of Hope, The Courage Center, Scooter Scott Project, Lighthouse for Life, Connections Lexington Community, South Carolina Behavioral Health and Developmental Disabilities and South Carolina Developmental Disabilities Council.

Together, you helped make the holidays a little brighter for families across South Carolina—and we are truly grateful.

A crisp fall morning turned into a beautiful sunny day as officers and volunteers came together in Kershaw County to pack 300 boxes of Greg’s Groceries — each one filled with food, care, and hope for neighbors in need.

Fifty-nine sets of hands — from law enforcement officers to volunteers from MUSC Health — worked side by side to pack boxes of love for families across the community. What began as a morning of service quickly became a celebration of connection, teamwork, and shared purpose.

We want to give a heartfelt thank you to MUSC Health for sponsoring this event and for their continued partnership in supporting Serve & Connect’s mission to build trust and strengthen relationships between law enforcement and the communities they serve.

We’re also deeply grateful to our law enforcement partners who joined in: the Kershaw County Sheriff’s Office, Camden Police Department, SC Department of Probation, Pardon and Parole, SLED, and the South Carolina Highway Patrol.

Together, they showed what a community looks like when we come together — packing more than just boxes, but hope and compassion for those who need it most.

“We can’t wait for the next one!” That was the feeling in the air as the Raleigh Police Department and a team of local volunteers came together on a brisk morning to pack 500 boxes of hope — Greg’s Groceries. The event took place at a local Walmart, where smiles, laughter, and teamwork filled the parking lot as officers and community members worked side by side.

This event marked an exciting milestone: Raleigh is the newest community to join the Greg’s Groceries family. From the moment we arrived, the welcome was warm, the energy was high, and the commitment to making a difference was undeniable. Raleigh aimed big for their very first event — and they absolutely delivered.

During all the activity, one quiet moment captured what Greg’s Groceries is all about. A man in need stopped by and was able to receive a box of food right then and there. His gratitude was deep and heartfelt — a powerful reminder that these boxes don’t just feed people; they carry hope, dignity, and care.

This incredible day wouldn’t have been possible without our amazing partners at Walmart for stepping up to help make this happen and AT&T, whose continued support helps make moments like this possible in communities across the Carolinas.

We would also like to thank Raleigh Chief of Police, Rico Boyce, Raleigh Mayor Janet Cowell, Senior Communications Analyst LaToya Hughes, Assistant Director Amanda Rolle, Roxboro Police Chief David Hess, Amy Osborn with Walmart, the team at Walmart Store #2058, and SLED Special Agent for Community Relations, Eric Rosdail.

From Columbia to Raleigh and beyond, Greg’s Groceries continues to grow — one box, one partnership, and one act of kindness at a time.

Honoring Officer Greg Alia

Police Across the Carolinas Unite for 10th Anniversary Packing Event

COLUMBIA, S.C. (Sept. 17th, 2025)-  On Tuesday, September 30 at 10:00 AM, police departments and sheriff’s offices from across North and South Carolina will gather in Columbia for a powerful day of service and remembrance. Together, officers will pack 2,000 Greg’s Groceries boxes in honor of Officer Greg Alia, marking the 10th anniversary of his passing.

The event—hosted by Serve & Connect in partnership with Walmart—will take place at the Forest Acres Walmart (5420 Forest Dr., Columbia, SC 29206). Members of the media, law enforcement partners, sponsors, and community stakeholders are invited to attend this impactful event. Media are asked to arrive by 9:30 AM.

Alongside the packing event, Serve & Connect will launch a new campaign commemorating Officer Alia’s legacy, highlighting a decade of community impact in his name.

Greg’s Groceries provides boxes of non-perishable food to individuals and families experiencing food insecurity, offering officers a meaningful way to connect with community members outside of enforcement. Since its founding in 2017, the initiative has distributed more than 26,000 boxes through partnerships with over 80 police agencies. So far in 2025, officers have packed 3,800 Greg’s Groceries boxes, with more than 1,900 distributed so far this year. 

Neighbors in need can reach out to Serve & Connect law enforcement partner agencies to receive a Greg’s Groceries box.

Award Recognition
As part of the event, Serve & Connect will also honor law enforcement leaders who exemplify its mission of building trust between police and communities. Awards will be presented in the following categories:

Agency of the Year

• Small Agency: Hartsville Police Department
• Medium Agency: Kershaw County Sheriff’s Office
• Large Agency: South Carolina Department of Probation, Parole & Pardon Services

Officer of the Year

• Small Agency: Deputy Leslie Lawson, Colleton County Sheriff’s Office
• Medium Agency: Captain Shannon Ellenburg, Pickens County Sheriff’s Office
• Large Agency: Victim’s Advocate Selena Gann, Greenville Police Department

Serve & Connect will be honored with the U.S. Marshals Service Citizen of the Year Award.

Featured speakers include Lt. Governor Pamela Evette and Jackie Swindler, Director of the South Carolina Criminal Justice Academy. Participating law enforcement agencies will represent communities including Columbia, Charleston, Greenville, Myrtle Beach, Roxboro and one of our newest partners, Raleigh, and more.

About Officer Greg Alia Greg’s Groceries was founded in memory of Officer Greg Alia, who was killed in the line of duty on September 30, 2015. Officer Alia worked for Forest Acres Police Department for seven years and was considered family. Greg was married to Serve & Connect founder Kassy Alia when he was shot and killed, leaving behind his 6-month-old son, Salvatore “Sal” David Alia. 

About Serve & Connect  Serve & Connect is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization that aims to ignite positive change through police-community partnerships. Kassy Alia Ray founded the organization in memory of her late husband, Officer Gregory Alia, who was killed in the line of duty in 2015. Backed by evidence-based practices designed to fuel collaboration, Serve & Connect provides the tools, training, and technical assistance necessary for police departments, local organizations, leaders, and residents to work together to improve community outcomes.

It was a beautiful day filled with friendship, remembrance, and the spirit of giving. Officers from across the Lowcountry joined with dedicated volunteers at the Charleston Police Department to pack 1,000 Greg’s Groceries boxes and 300 hygiene kits for neighbors in need.

Before the packing began, we paused to honor and remember the life of Chief Luther Reynolds, whose leadership and legacy continue to inspire us. We are especially grateful to Caroline Reynolds, Chief Reynolds’ wife, for championing this effort and standing beside us in our mission to build stronger, more connected communities.

We want to thank the Charleston Rotary Club for their generous support and donations that made the 300 hygiene kits possible. We are also grateful to Mayor William S. Cogswell Jr. for speaking at the event and to Representative Mark Smith and his team for joining us in support.

This special day would not have been possible without our incredible partners. Walmart, thank you for your generosity and support—you truly made magic happen!

We also want to recognize and thank our law enforcement partners: Charleston Police Department, Charleston County Sheriff’s Office, Goose Creek Police Department, Moncks Corner Police Department, South Carolina Probation, Parole & Pardon Services, and the South Carolina Highway Patrol.

Together, we honored those we’ve lost, celebrated the power of partnership, and made a lasting impact for families across the Lowcountry.

💙 If you’d like to give back to the Lowcountry community, you can make a donation here: https://gcld.co/GYGjVyZ

https://www.live5news.com/2025/08/15/lowcountry-law-enforcement-descend-charleston-create-good-tragedy/

https://abcnews4.com/news/local/local-law-enforcement-agencies-honor-charleston-police-chief-luther-reynolds-with-food-packing-event-ccso-cpd-serve-and-connect-south-carolina-wciv-kassy-alia-ray

https://www.counton2.com/news/the-charleston-police-department-hosts-an-event-to-strengthen-ties-between-officers-and-residents/