The Wakulla County Sheriff’s Office in Florida has received a shipment of so‑called Bexley Boxes, a packaged set of comfort items intended to help children who are present at traumatic incidents. The supplies were provided as part of a statewide initiative organised by the Florida Attorney General’s office in partnership with the Bridegan Foundation and Walmart.
Origins of the programme
The initiative stems from a 2022 incident in Jacksonville Beach. After witnessing the killing of her father, a young child named Bexley Bridegan spent several hours in a police station without access to essential toddler items. Her mother, Kirsten Bridegan, subsequently helped establish the Bridegan Foundation as a non‑profit to supply emergency comfort kits for children who come into contact with law enforcement.
What is in a Bexley Box?
Organisers say each box is stocked with age‑appropriate essentials intended to meet immediate needs and provide reassurance. Items listed include:
- Diapers and baby formula
- Juice and snacks
- Blankets and stuffed animals
- Colouring books and other comfort items
The Sheriff’s Office has begun sorting the supplies by age group. Some kits will remain at headquarters while others will be placed in patrol vehicles so that deputies can access them during emergency calls.
“Children are at the majority of our calls. I mean, you look at families, whether you’re in a domestic, whether there’s a car accident, many times there’s children in a car during that car accident. Some of our really traumatic events we’ve had included children in the history of Wakulla County and that’s a pretty sad fact,” said Brett Surace of the sheriff’s office.
Scale and funding
State officials say Walmart has pledged more than $100,000 to help distribute Bexley Boxes to law enforcement agencies across Florida. The Wakulla County Sheriff’s Office described the resource as a practical addition to deputies’ equipment for responding to incidents involving children.
Local relevance for Bexley residents
While this initiative is US‑based and the boxes bear the name of the child who inspired them, the programme raises questions that will be familiar to Londoners: how best to support children at the scene of emergencies and what basic items officers should carry to provide immediate comfort. The reported practice of equipping patrol vehicles so that support is available at the moment of need is a concrete operational choice documented here.
| Item type | Purpose |
|---|---|
| Diapers, formula | Meet basic physical needs for infants |
| Blankets, toys | Provide warmth and emotional comfort |
| Colouring books, snacks | Occupy and calm children while arrangements are made |
The project is an example of a community partnership involving a charity, a corporate donor and a government office. For residents interested in policing policy, child safeguarding or emergency response, the Bexley Boxes story offers a clear, documented example of how resources can be standardised and distributed to frontline officers.
The Wakulla County Sheriff’s Office said it is grateful for the donations and for the ability to provide immediate comfort and care to children during difficult and traumatic situations.
