Child Safe Holds “Holiday Helpers” Event at Fox Theatre

Child Safe recently hosted a "Holiday Helpers" event at the Fox Theatre.

Child Safe was presented with an in-kind donation from James Coterel to use the Fox Theatre for the event, free of charge.

Jackie Cooley, Child Safe’s Board Vice President and mother of two young children had an idea, saying, “Why don’t we make it possible for parents to have a night out to shop together."

In three weeks time, Cooley, and Board member Brittni Lancaster, and volunteer Stacey Haley, along with Amanda Johnson, Child Safe’s Community Outreach and Education Specialists started planning.

A press release from Child Safe says the “Holiday Helpers” event took place December 7, with thirty-five children ranging in ages from 3-12, attending. Parents could give a free-will donation for the 3-hour evening, which included games, crafts, a movie, complimentary Little Caesars’ pizza, and popcorn, which was donated and popped by the Boy Scout Troop from Iglesia Lutherana Amigos De Cristo church.

According to Kimberly Allen, Executive Director of Child Safe, “We were very excited to do this event because this is a time of great stress for some families. It is often the children who feel this stress the most. It is not unusual to hear children crying and whining when out holiday shopping, so we wanted to take this stress away from both the child and the care giver.”

Allen noted, “As adults it is our responsibility to protect and value children and prevent child abuse.”

Child Safe reminds everyone to report child abuse or neglect by calling 1-800-392-3738.