COLUMBIA, S.C. — There’s a new partnership in the Midlands with the goal to help bullied or runaways have a safe place to go.
The COMET transportation service partnered with the Safe place network, a program that’s aimed at helping young people ages 12-20 bullied or running away find a safe haven.
The transit company is joining the effort by identifying all vehicles as “safe place“ locations.
"They can in essence go to a bus stop and tell the bus driver they need a safe place" says John Endoh, Excecutive Director and CEO of The COMET, "Our bus operators will then reach out to dispatch, reach out to dispatch they will find the appropriate resource and have resource meet them along the route. So that child has an opportunity to take advantage of a safe place."
According to the safe place network, nearly 80 transit companies throughout the county have partnered with the organization to help assist young people.
"Safe place really seeks to meet youth where they are and this is the perfect opportunity to do that as they are mobile sites" says Autumn Sandlin, communications manager at national safe place network, "They maybe the only place in a residential area where youth can go get help and that’s why the partnerships with transit organizations have been so helpful."
Apart of the partnership young people in need can also text the word safe and their current location to the number 44357 for immediate help.
