В Оконском округе бесплатно раздают наборы для сбора запаха пропавших людей

Oconee Co. Sheriff’s Office offering free ‘Scent of Hope’ kits to help find missing loved ones OCONEE COUNTY, S.C. (FOX Carolina) - The Oconee County Sheriff’s Office said it is partnering with several organizations to provide free “Scent of Hope” Kits to families and caregivers in Oconee County. The sheriff’s office said the kits allow families and caregivers to collect and preserve the unique scent of a child or at-risk adult before an emergency occurs. If that person runs away, wanders or goes missing, the preserved scent can be provided to train bloodhound search teams as an additional resource to assist in finding them. Each kit contains materials and instructions needed to properly collect and preserve a scent sample at home, including a Mason jar, sterile gauze, sealing tape, sterile gloves and instructions. Each kit is intended for one person and one properly collected and stored scent sample. The sample can remain viable for up to two years, the sheriff’s office said. The completed kit remains with the family or caregiver. The kits should be stored in a cool, dark location, the sheriff’s office said. The sheriff’s office said it does not store the kits, collect information from them, enter information into an agency database or use it for data collection. If someone with a prepared kit goes missing, the sheriff’s office said the family should notify law enforcement that a preserved sample is available. The sample can then be provided to search personnel. The sheriff’s office said the kits are free and available for pickup at the Oconee County Sheriff’s Office in Walhalla during normal business hours Monday through Friday, from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. Kits are also available through the sheriff’s office Community Services Division. The sheriff’s office said it is partnering with Upstate Bloodhound Search and Rescue, the Oconee Sheriff’s Foundation and Lifeline Community Church on the kits. MORE NEWS: Feel more informed, prepared, and connected with FOX Carolina. For more free content like this, download our apps. Copyright 2026 WHNS. All rights reserved.