HAMPTON, Va. (WAVY) — A week after 4-year-old Codi Bigsby went missing, community members want to remind their neighbors they need their help to bring Codi home.
The Buckroe area of Hampton on Monday was a stark contrast from the scene there last week: no large police presence, no search and rescue equipment, no K-9s.
Still, signs of hope and resiliency remain as community members continue searching — and they need the community’s help to do it.
As Hampton police move their search into an investigative stage, community members want to remind their neighbors they can still help in the search for Codi.
Founder and President Yugonda Sample-Jones of Empower All VA says even though the major police presence is gone, the search continues at the hands of the community.
“If people, like who are here, who are dedicated that are showing up, that are offering tips and information, that is all important in making sure that we just get some answers about where Codi is,” she said.
Jordan Walker lives in Hampton and says he felt it was his duty to come out the last week and help with search efforts. He’s helping organize their searches in wooded areas.
“I got kids at home and it’s my hometown and I feel like it’s a respectful thing to do to help the community and give back and do what I can to help this boy come home,” he said.
Walker says it’s important for people who want to help to dress warm and wear protective gear. They always make sure to have people search in groups so no one gets hurt.
“Two-at-a-time they go search one area, and we use, like I said, a drone and everything to get an aerial view and we have communications,” he said.
Now a week into Codi’s disappearance, community members say it’s important to keep sharing his photo and raising awareness about his disappearance.
“The biggest thing is awareness and knowing that there are people that are still individually looking and that we have support and supplies for them,” said Sample-Jones.
Black Lives Matter 757 and other community organizations will gather at the parking lot at 1735 Old Buckroe Road this Tuesday to Thursday from noon to 6 p.m. They’ll coordinate search efforts from there.
Empower All VA will also be helping by providing resources with the search, including flyers to hand out to neighbors and local businesses.
They say all this work is for one purpose.
“It’s a kid missing and we have to bring him home safely,” said Walker.
For more information on the search and how to get involved, visit this Facebook group.
Download the WAVY News App to keep up with the latest news, weather and sports from WAVY-TV 10. Available in both the Apple and Google Play stores.
