Durham Co. Sheriff's Office's 'Stop the Violence' event combines outreach, school support

DURHAM, N.C. (WTVD) -- What looked like a day of dancing, good food, and community celebration at Durham County Stadium Saturday had a much deeper purpose behind it.

"Durham is resource rich," said Tamika Gilmer with the Durham County Sheriff's Office. "We want people to know there are resources for everything you need in Durham."

The Durham County Sheriff's Office held its third annual 'Stop the Violence/Cease Fire' community event, offering an opportunity for people to connect with law enforcement and access local resources. This comes amid concerns about gun violence in the city.

"We are embedded in the community," Gilmer said. "We all live in the community and we want to make sure that everybody knows that we are here, we are available, and we're here to help."

The event was about more than outreach -- it was also a way to support families as the new school year approaches. The Sheriff's Office distributed free school supplies to help parents manage growing costs.

SEE ALSO: Durham community leaders focus on young people after teen killed: 'We gotta do something'

"Every year, when she starts school, the list keeps going up and up and up and up," said Durham parent Rod Wheeler, referring to his daughter Zabre. "We find ourselves buying resources for her and additional kids and for the classroom with budget cuts and everything and stuff like that. We just got to come together."

Wheeler said connecting with deputies in this kind of setting makes a real impact.

"Bringing everybody together and functions for the community is absolutely what we need," he said.

Other parents, like Lorraine, expressed gratitude for the chance to engage directly with the sheriff's office.

"Thank you, thank you for hosting this because we're definitely grateful," she said.

SEE ALSO: Cornwallis Road community teens air concerns to Durham leaders: 'We are not cared about'