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Date: 12/5/2023
LUDLOW — On Nov. 27, the Hampden County Sheriff’s TRIAD Program prepared more than 300 buckets of sand for dozens to kick off its “Sand for Seniors” initiative.
“The event went great,” said Hampden County Sheriff Nick Cocchi, “We received about 55 calls after the news broke in helping generate more people for sand as well as other TRIAD services that we have been providing.”
The program helps provide sand as a preventative measure for use on sidewalks, driveways and walkways to ensure safety in the upcoming winter months and is distributed to aging neighbors in seven municipalities as part of TRIAD’s Sand for Seniors program.
Seniors in Blandford, Chester, Chicopee, East Longmeadow, Longmeadow, Springfield and West Springfield received deliveries of sand from first responders with the Sheriff’s Office as well as local police and fire departments.
“We are proud to be able to offer this crucial service to our aging neighbors ahead of a season where we are forecast to have some significant snowfall,” said Cocchi. “I’ve always said my generation could do a better job taking care of the generations that came before us and our TRIAD Program works in that spirit. This program is a way for our office to show appreciation and respect for the seniors in our community, and to help keep them safe.”
Hampden County TRIAD is a safety initiative that focuses on empowering, educating and improving the lives, safety, security, and peace of mind of the senior community in Western Massachusetts and was started by Sheriff Cocchi in 2021.
Cocchi said, “We started by just doing about probably 10 to 15 buckets of sand and we have been out promoting it every year and every time we go out to a TRIAD function with the Senior Centers, it’s been a really good opportunity to get involved but I think more importantly providing our seniors with an opportunity to make sure that they can safely navigate these tough inclement weather months that are ahead of us.
The overall goal of the TRIAD Program for Seniors is to assist in the upkeep of a safe and healthy life for the seniors of Hampden County and there are many other individual goals of the program as well including reducing criminal activity that targets the senior community, providing education and services that will build confidence and improve the quality of life and enhancing trust and safety with law enforcement by ensuring access to services and alleviating fear of victimization among seniors.
Other programs include Project Lifesaver, ‘Are you OK?’, and Y.E.S. to help improve the lives and peace of mind of the senior community.
All of TRIAD’s services are provided free of charge and can be accessed by calling the HCSO TRIAD Division at 413-858-0060.
Cocchi added, “Its about the Sheriff’s office stepping up and being respectful and approachable to our senior citizen population who have done so much for our communities over the years. This is a mission of this Sherrif’s office and this administration to provide enough services and a way of gratitude to say thank you to the senior citizen population of Hampden County.”