AUBURN - Fun and safety can go hand in hand.
That was the message Saturday afternoon at Melone Village Apartments as the Auburn Housing Authority teamed up with the Auburn Police Department, Fire Department and the Governor's Traffic Safety Commission to bring an afternoon all about safety and fun to the children and families of the apartment complex.
Lydia Husak, executive director of the Auburn Housing Authority, said that the event was the brainchild of police officer Mike Warter.
“It was his idea,” Husak said. “He approached us with the idea of doing a day about safety. He wanted to know if we would be interested in working with him on it. We thought it would be a great idea to have something like this for the children and their families at the complex, a family oriented event that is all about safety.”
The event, previously held at Brogan manor and Olympia Terrace as well, brought together the resources of numerous safety oriented groups in the community.
As a police officer, Warter was able to get the department involved, and Sgt. Greg Dann said he saw this as a unique opportunity for the police department to reach out to the children in the community, while still teaching them some important lessons.
“It is an opportunity for us to interact with the children on a more casual basis,” Dann said. “It lets us show them that we are just like them, we have a job to do but we are just like them. And I think this is good to give kids the chance to interact with us like this.”
The police department brought a K-9 unit for a demonstration, as well as the motorcycle division.
They were joined by TLC Emergency Medical Services and an engine from the Auburn Fire Department.
“This gives the kids the opportunity to see all of this up close,” Dann said. “They can look at the fire engine and things like that and really get to see it all up close and get a better idea about what it is all about.”
Working in conjunction with the Governor's Traffic Safety Commission, the police department had a small obstacle course for children to ride their bikes through, upon completion of the course; children were presented with a new bike helmet.
Joe Mushock, a member of the commission, said that the housing authority, the police department and the commission shared in the cost of the helmets.
During last weekend's event at Brogan Manor and Olympia Terrace, Mushock said that about 80 helmets were given out, and he estimated that by the end of the day Saturday, more than 100 would be distributed in total.
“We're here to help raise awareness and promote safety,” Mushock said. “I think it has gone really well over the course of the three weeks that we have been doing this.”
Also available was child fingerprinting and Project Safe Child identification. Having these resources so readily available went over well with many of the parents on hand.
“It was very informative,” Patty Davenport said. “Safety is really important and I think it is great that they are having all of this for the kids.”
And the message got across to the children, as well.
“You've got to have a helmet,” Jennifer Lawton, 9, said. “I think it is pretty cool that they gave you a helmet for going through the course, because you've got to have one to be safe. It was fun and at the same time you learned about safety.”
Husak said that she would like to see the safety day turn into an annual event.
Lydia Husak, executive director of the Auburn Housing Authority, said that the event was the brainchild of police officer Mike Warter.
“It was his idea,” Husak said. “He approached us with the idea of doing a day about safety. He wanted to know if we would be interested in working with him on it. We thought it would be a great idea to have something like this for the children and their families at the complex, a family oriented event that is all about safety.”
The event, previously held at Brogan manor and Olympia Terrace as well, brought together the resources of numerous safety oriented groups in the community.
As a police officer, Warter was able to get the department involved, and Sgt. Greg Dann said he saw this as a unique opportunity for the police department to reach out to the children in the community, while still teaching them some important lessons.
“It is an opportunity for us to interact with the children on a more casual basis,” Dann said. “It lets us show them that we are just like them, we have a job to do but we are just like them. And I think this is good to give kids the chance to interact with us like this.”
The police department brought a K-9 unit for a demonstration, as well as the motorcycle division.
They were joined by TLC Emergency Medical Services and an engine from the Auburn Fire Department.
“This gives the kids the opportunity to see all of this up close,” Dann said. “They can look at the fire engine and things like that and really get to see it all up close and get a better idea about what it is all about.”
Working in conjunction with the Governor's Traffic Safety Commission, the police department had a small obstacle course for children to ride their bikes through, upon completion of the course; children were presented with a new bike helmet.
Joe Mushock, a member of the commission, said that the housing authority, the police department and the commission shared in the cost of the helmets.
During last weekend's event at Brogan Manor and Olympia Terrace, Mushock said that about 80 helmets were given out, and he estimated that by the end of the day Saturday, more than 100 would be distributed in total.
“We're here to help raise awareness and promote safety,” Mushock said. “I think it has gone really well over the course of the three weeks that we have been doing this.”
Also available was child fingerprinting and Project Safe Child identification. Having these resources so readily available went over well with many of the parents on hand.
“It was very informative,” Patty Davenport said. “Safety is really important and I think it is great that they are having all of this for the kids.”
And the message got across to the children, as well.
“You've got to have a helmet,” Jennifer Lawton, 9, said. “I think it is pretty cool that they gave you a helmet for going through the course, because you've got to have one to be safe. It was fun and at the same time you learned about safety.”
Husak said that she would like to see the safety day turn into an annual event.
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