ASHLAND – After recognizing a need in the community, Ashland’s local chapter of Kiwanis International is stepping up to fill the void.
The service club is launching a new Safety Town program, which they will pilot this year in hopes of repeating annually.
The first Safety Town started 1937 in Mansfield by traffic commissioner Frend Boals and kindergarten teacher Ruth Robbins. The pair designed the program to teach traffic safety to pre-kindergarten children.
Today, more than 1,170 Safety Town programs are held throughout the county, according to National Safety Town Center.
Ashland has not had a Safety Town program for many years, said Amy Daubenspeck, who co-chairs the Safety Town committee with Jennifer Washock.
“It hasn’t existed in a very long time, and it’s something the Kiwanis Club has talked about for maybe two or three years now, but this is the first year we were able to really get it off the ground,” Daubenspeck said. “We were looking for a project that we could put our name to that would kind of be a legacy for our club.”
Once word of the club’s plans began to spread, feedback from the community reaffirmed the idea.
“A lot of parents have said, ‘Thank you for doing this. We remember when our kids went through it years ago.’ And there are new parents saying, ‘Thank you for bringing it back.,'” Daubenspeck said.
Ashland Safety Town will be 5:30-7:30 p.m. June 4-6 at the Salvation Army Kroc Center. Topics include traffic safety, fire safety, poison control and anti-bullying.
In its inaugural year, Ashland Safety Town will accept 30-40 incoming kindergartners from any school within city limits. In future years, the program may be expanded to accommodate more kids, including homeschooled students and students living outside the city.
The Ashland Fire Department, Ashland Police Department, Ohio Highway Patrol and American Red Cross have agreed to help with programming, and Ashland Public Library is providing craft projects each day, Washock said.
“I don’t think we’ve had anyone tell us no yet when we’ve contacted them for anything,” Daubenspeck said. “It’s just fantastic.”
Donley Ford of Ashland donated money to purchase 10 child-size balance bicycles from Ashland Bike Company, which secured a discount from its supplier and offered to sell the bicycles to the Kiwanis club at cost. Ashland Bike Company owner Tony Bunt is also volunteering his time to assemble bikes and fit kids with bicycle helmets. Helmets were donated by the Salvation Army Kroc Center.
Ashland Board of Realtors, Spreng-Smith Agency, Ashland Elks, Help Me Grow and Mid-Ohio Graphics have all donated money or in-kind donations as well.
“It’s typical Ashland,” Daubenspeck said. “When people hear of a good cause, they welcome you with open arms.”
The club is still taking donations and seeking grants to help cover expenses, including the nearly $4,000 cost of a 50-foot by 35-foot street scene tarp.
To donate, send a check payable to “The Kiwanis Club of Ashland” to Ashland Kiwanis Club, PO Box 573, Ashland, Ohio 44805 by April 1.
For more information or to register an incoming kindergarten student, call 419-545-1727 or 419-606-0634. Registration information is also being distributed through schools to families of incoming kindergarteners. The registration deadline is May 17.
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