Beaufort County residents are encouraged to rummage through old files, clean out the ones no longer needed and bring them over for shredding at H&R Block on West 15^th Street in Washington.

It’s part of H&R Block’s annual Free Shred Day, slated for Thursday, and it’s all in an effort to cut down on identity theft.

Jason Kidwell, office manager at H&R Block, said the business has been providing this service for several years, and everyone is encouraged to bring important documents to be disposed of properly.

He said shredding important information is generally a better way to protect one’s personal information, unless documents are safely stored, and it is safer than tossing the documents into a trashcan.

“It really just comes down to how you’re storing them,” Kidwell said. “We are seeing a rise in (identity theft) just like anybody else. … There’s a lot of it going on.”

Although it’s a simple service, Kidwell said he has people ask him about it every year, and many people take advantage of the opportunity. Residents do not have to be an H&R Block client to participate.

Kidwell said there are no stipulations as to what or how much a person can bring for shredding, but H&R Block does discourage businesses from coming by with unusually large quantities of documents.

Kidwell said it’s just a way to give back to residents, while promoting the security of their personal information. It’s an avenue to help residents, who may not be H&R clients, out in a small way, too.

“Just to help curb some of the identity theft that’s going on nowadays,” he said. “They’re welcome to bring anything they like.”

“We don’t really have limits on things,” Kidwell added. “Like I said, we do offer this to anybody.”

Free Shred Day will be held Thursday from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at H&R Block, 2013 W. 15^th St., Washington.