Hundreds of kids and their parents had fun Saturday while learning about safety during Family Safety Day at Central Park and Pavilion in Warsaw.
The event was presented by the Warsaw-Wayne Fire Territory and sponsored by Kosciusko REMC and Lutheran Health Network Kosciusko Community Hospital.
While there were lines for every booth and activity, the one for the free bicycle helmets was long, with 200 helmets being given out within the first two hours of the four-hour event.
Joni Truex, Kiwanis Club of Warsaw, said the Kiwanis with a Kosciusko REMC Operation Round-Up grant provided the helmets.
“We’re thrilled we got a matching grant,” she said.
Each month, KREMC members who have volunteered for the program allow KREMC to “round up” their bill to the next dollar, according to energy cooperative’s website. For example, if a customer has an electric bill of $53.86, that bill would be rounded up to $54, with 14 cents being donated to the program. If a member has multiple accounts, they can decide if they would like each account rounded up or just one. Each participating member, on average, contributes approximately $6 a year, the website states.
The money is then deposited into the Kosciusko REMC Operation Round-Up fund, held at the Kosciusko County Community Foundation. A voluntary advisory committee, comprised of KREMC members, meets regularly to review applications for Operation Round-Up grants and to make grant recommendations.
Joni Truex, Kiwanis Club of Warsaw, said the Kiwanis with a Kosciusko REMC Operation Round-Up grant provided the helmets.
“We’re thrilled we got a matching grant,” she said.
Each month, KREMC members who have volunteered for the program allow KREMC to “round up” their bill to the next dollar, according to energy cooperative’s website. For example, if a customer has an electric bill of $53.86, that bill would be rounded up to $54, with 14 cents being donated to the program. If a member has multiple accounts, they can decide if they would like each account rounded up or just one. Each participating member, on average, contributes approximately $6 a year, the website states.
The money is then deposited into the Kosciusko REMC Operation Round-Up fund, held at the Kosciusko County Community Foundation. A voluntary advisory committee, comprised of KREMC members, meets regularly to review applications for Operation Round-Up grants and to make grant recommendations.
Any individual or organization in Kosciusko REMC’s service area is eligible to apply for a grant from the trust. Funds will not be used to pay utility bills or go toward political campaigns. Grant applications are due the first of March, June, September and December, according to the website.
After kids picked up their free helmet, they could then wear it while they rode a bike in Warsaw Police Department’s Bike Rodeo. The WPD also provided K9 demonstrations.
Other police agencies on hand included the Indiana Department of Natural Resources and Indiana State Police.
In the pavilion were booths providing health and related information for parents and freebies for kids. Booths included Bowen Center, Anthem, American Red Cross, Medication Assistance & Dental, Parkview Warsaw YMCA, Warsaw-Wayne Fire Territory, WPD DARE, BrightPoint, Kosciusko County Solid Waste Management District, The Beaman Home, Healthy Families, Heartline Pregnancy Center, Lutheran Health Network and MedStat.
The fire territory also provided children with an opportunity to ride the zip line outside in the park.
Kids could get their face painted, while parents checked out the ProTechs Prevention Tent. Caudill’s ATA offered karate for kids demonstrations, and Warsaw Breakfast Optimist Club sponsored the Safe Assured ID. Kohl’s had a “Hungry Harry” game for kids to play, and blood donations could be made by adults at the American Red Cross Bloodmobile. Kosciusko 4-H Shooting Sport club offered free target shooting.
City of Warsaw Public Works and Street Dept. let kids get paint on their hand and then leave their handprint on one of four snowplows. According to operator Ryan Hessler, the handprints on the plows will be clear coated so the handprints can be seen while snow is removed this winter.
(Story By The Times Union)
