Community County Churches Partner to Combat Neighborhood Crime

PALMETTO -- The First Baptist Church of Palmetto joined in local efforts to reduce crime throughout the community’s poorer areas by implementing Adopt A Block mission programs. After successfully hosting its first outreach event in the spring, First Baptist now works in solidarity with four additional churches toward a common goal of safer Manatee County neighborhoods.

Photo: First Baptist's website

Retaining strong support from law enforcement, two First Baptist bible studies groups and members of North River, Sarasota Baptist, Bayside Community and Mt. Carmel churches distribute donated pancake breakfasts, form cleanup teams and entertain youth and senior residents among participating block locations.  

One volunteer coalition visits the 400 block of 11th Street Drive at 8 a.m. on the first Saturday of each month, while the other serves the Oakridge Apartments every Saturday from 8-10:30 a.m. Through Adopt A Block, neighborhood ties have strengthened and criminal activity within the vulnerable environments has lessened.

An 18.7 percent decrease in violent crimes and felonies since 2011 is significant, and Palmetto Police Department Chief Rick Wells has acknowledged the institutions’ endeavors. ”What we have here is the community members taking back their community,“ Wells said.

He believes religious leaders partaking in community outreach encourages citizens to speak openly about their struggles and potential concerns for neighborhood well-being, voicing apprehensions they would not typically share in the presence of police officers.

For example, Fortunata Martinez, who is raising young children, expressed a nine-year fear for her family’s protection around the 400 block to a parishioner. Having witnessed some actions of nearby tenants, Martinez said she was unable to make a simple grocery store trip during the evenings.

Because church officials act unintentionally as liaisons, ”They [Citizens] know that the information they give the pastors will make it to law enforcement,“ Wells said. ”They may be reluctant to come to us, but they’re very comfortable talking to one of them.“

The link between poverty and crime is evident. In a story The Bradenton Times published on May 30, Palmetto’s disenfranchised CRA district experienced a reduction in crime once Wells began promoting the interaction between civic organizations and impoverished areas to combat wrongdoings.

YMCA Youth At-Risk Coordinator Jerry Parrish, also a former gang member, feels affected families need an ideal shift to establish lasting change. ”Poverty is ugly, and it doesn’t care what color you are,“ he said. ”The big picture is it’s one of those things where it takes everybody working together. The goal is to let these people know how important they are.“

Parrish gains the inspiration for his work from teachings in the Bible. ”My job is to keep the gang thing from becoming generational. When you lead by serving, you can really see change. Then families–they see change, and they become part of the solution instead of part of the problem.“

Faith-based assemblies and other non-profit philanthropies have historically paved the way for volunteerism and social welfare. Adopt A Block’s five-church partnership is no different, providing revitalization, improving local safety and embracing diversity.

Alfred James, the pastor of Mt. Carmel, thinks people have allowed cultural differences to impede on humanitarianism, and in order to establish an unyielding community, the behavior cannot continue. ”We believe we are at a point in time where the world needs to see not a black church or a white church. We need to learn to love one another before we can truly love the world,“ James said. 

With plans to expand the Adopt A Block program to more residencies, First Baptist’s senior pastor Phillip Hamm agreed with James, ”We must be serving people outside our church as consistently as we are serving those inside our church. It’s about loving people no matter their socioeconomic condition, skin color or country of origin.“

To become an Adopt A Block volunteer, or to contribute outreach supplies, please contact First Baptist Church of Palmetto at 941-722-7795.