Event focuses on child safety
Posted on Sunday, May 20, 2007
BENTONVILLE - The YMCA of Northwest Arkansas held its first community outreach program - Healthy Kids Day - as the organization works toward building a facility in Benton County.
Healthy Kids Day is supported by YMCAs across the country to promote healthy lifestyles for children and families. "We hare promoting healthy lifestyle choices for kids and families," YMCA board member Don Romoser said. "We think its important to promote good choices by kids and families."
The YMCA sponsored event at Memorial Park had 35 exhibitors. Exhibitors were promoting some aspect of safety for children.
Jill Pike, a dentist with Pate Family Dentistry, had a booth at the event.
Pike said community outreach events are important to her because many people do not realize the importance of children's dental health. The event served as a way for her to stress the importance of dental health and help educate parents on the topic.
First Western Bank teamed with the Benton County Sheriff's Office to provide fingerprint identification and child safety seat information.
"We are happy to support any effort to help provide for the safety of our children," said Doug Gay, Benton County Sheriff's Office public information officer.
Farmers Insurance also sponsored a booth where parents were able to get digital identification and finger prints of their children.
Meshell Bates of Bentonville brought her 6- and 9-year-old daughters to the event. She was interested in having the digital information on children as a precaution.
Brad Crain, another YMCA board director, also said the organization is launching their summer swim team and fall adventure guide.
The YMCA is teaming up with the Red Cross to use its pool to provide the summer swimming program. The fall program will be a camping and outdoor program for families.
The YMCA is raising money for three years of operation and hopes to have a facility in the next three years, according to Crain.
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