Ofc. Kristen Odom participates in YMCA Hometown Heroes program

In promotion of literacy, Prisma Family Health YMCA hosts Simpsonville police officer to read to campers

(Release: July 22, 2022)

Simpsonville, S.C. — Simpsonville Police Ofc. Kristen Odom read to campers at the Prisma Health Family YMCA in Simpsonville on Thursday to help promote literacy among children.

The YMCA invited Odom to read The Cow That Went OINK at the Adams Mill Road location as part of its Hometown Heroes program. Community members who help make a difference in the Simpsonville area and beyond stop by the Y on Thursdays after lunch to read to up to 20 campers at a time.

"I love working with kids and being someone they can look up to so they know there's always someone there for them," Ofc. Odom said. "It was a joy to read to the campers. As police officers, we want to be involved in the community and foster positive interactions between law enforcement and young people, and the Hometown Heroes program is a wonderful way to do that. The campers kept me on my toes with their questions after the reading, and it was really cool to watch their faces light up when they saw the patrol car."

After Ofc. Odom read to the campers, she showed them her patrol car and gave them honorary badge stickers.

Simpsonville Deputy Fire Marshal, Jamal Mack, Mayor Paul Shewmaker and Community Relations Specialist Justin Campbell also participated in the Hometown Heroes program.

Simpsonville Police Ofc. Kristen Odom let campers from the YMCA on Adams Mill Road tour her patrol car after reading to them as part of the Y's Hometown Heroes reading program on July 22 | City of Simpsonville

Simpsonville Police Ofc. Kristen Odom gave campers from the YMCA on Adams Mill Road honorary badge stickers after reading to them as part of the Y's Hometown Heroes reading program on July 22 | City of Simpsonville