Salisbury Mayor Susan Kluttz invites citizens to attend the upcoming Project SAFE Neighborhoods Family Day event Aug. 23, a Saturday
Activities start at 10 a.m. at the J.F. Hurley Family YMCA, 828 Jake Alexander Blvd., and continue through 2 p.m. The event, sponsored by the Rowan County United Way, marks the third in a series of Project SAFE Neighborhoods Family Day events which serve as a positive intervention and prevention program for kids in grades kindergarten through fifth.
Deputy Chief Rory Collins, Project SAFE program director for the Salisbury Police Department, said:
“These community events provide a positive venue for our citizens and create increased awareness for affirmative youth outlets.
“Children are currently being targeted for gang activity at a very young age and by involving children in positive and productive roles, we can potentially deter their involvement in future gang activity.”
Family Day will offer the X-R-Cade Workshop for Kids, a ventriloquist act, a moon bounce, interactive games and arts and crafts projects.
Additional children’s venues include “Kids’ Internet Safety” and “Police Officers Are Our Friends” educational programs by the Salisbury Police Department and the opportunity to meet and greet Chipper the Squirrel, the Salisbury Parks and Recreation mascot.
A Salisbury Police car, Rowan County Sheriff’s display and a Highway Patrol helicopter will be on site.
Informational booths and displays will include Project SAFE Neighborhoods, Youth Services Bureau, Rowan Partners in Education, Communities in Schools, Salisbury Parks & Recreation, the YMCA, Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts, Adolescent Family Enrichment Council, Salisbury Rowan Community Service Council, Youth in Action Against Tobacco Council and the Rowan County Health Department.
Available informational workshops for parents will include Project SAFE Neighborhood’s Gang Front, Toxic Culture and Drug Education. Those attending each workshop will be eligible to participate in door prize drawings.
“I sincerely encourage everyone to partake in this very special family event which features a live DJ, complimentary food and drinks and free back-to-school supplies for children,” Kluttz said.
In addition to door prizes given away at the workshops, there will be additional prize drawings held at 2 p.m. Winners must be present to claim their prize and must hold a ticket punched with proof of attendance at two of the three available workshops.
Free giveaways will be available to the first 750 attendees, and early attendance is encouraged.
Kluttz added, “This event offers incredible support for the eight focus areas which citizens identified, during the Salisbury-Rowan United Summit, as key in providing positive opportunities for our youth and creating a safer environment for all.”
The focus areas include recreational opportunities, mentoring and tutoring, parenting, jobs and educational opportunities, schools and school-based programs and support from the faith community.