Keeping Kids Safe Day

Wow! What a day! Saturday the 22nd we hosted a Child Safety Event called "Keeping Kids Safe Day". We approached the city of Phoenix about this idea in late 2007 and they jumped on board with both feet. We were able to get Phoenix Police and Fire to teach the kids about general safety issues and they brought along a lot of cool stuff - like a big fire truck, a police motorcycle, police cars. Phoenix Fire also brought out their demonstration house where they teach kids house to get out of the house if it's on fire and what to do if there is an emergency. They also had kid sized fire coats that the kids could put on.

Phoenix Children's Hospital in partnership with Phoenix Fire sponsored a Car Seat Safety Check. They checked over 30 cars and if the seats were not properly installed, they taught the parents how to install them properly. Farmer's Insurance enrolled kids into the Amber Alert Network.

The Police also had free Vehicle Identification Number window etching available.

There was lots of food and drink available thanks to our good friends at the Rotaract Club and we had some fabulous live music from some local artists. One artist is part of a band called "Safety Patrol". They are a group of city employees who sing about safety to kids. He had some great original songs like "Stranger Danger" that really helps kids remember safety stuff!

We also had about 15 local vendors who sent up booths to be apart of the day. We asked them for a $25 booth fee and 100% of the proceeds will buy food for needy families whose kids attend the school that is adjacent to our property.

One of the benefits of hosting an event like this is working closely with the city government. So much is made about church and state, but it has been our experience that the city government will bend over backwards to work with churches on things that we share in common. We have also developed some solid personal relationships with the good folks in the Fire, Police, and Council's office that we hope will grow.

Our goal is to transform the city of Phoenix for Christ. We pray that God will honor our goal and that through events like this, we are able to develop relationships with key people within the community who will be able to influence public policy in a Christ honoring way.

This event is a small step in that direction, please pray that events like this please God and that He will bless and multiply His influence on the city government.