Hillsdale County Great Start Collaborative Staying Safe!

Hillsdale County Great Start Collaborative

Staying Safe!

By Elyse Apel

On June 18, the Hillsdale County Great Start Collaborative is co-hosting a community-wide event with Simply Hers focused on teaching families how to prioritize safety. The second annual Hillsdale County Free Family Safety Fair will be from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Hillsdale County Fairgrounds.

“The goal is to provide education and resources around a wide variety of safety topics that impact kids and families in Hillsdale County,” says Stefanie Rathburn, director at Great Start.

All Hillsdale County families are welcome to attend this free event.

“Free lunches will be available to the first 150 kids under 10 to sign in,” Stefanie says. “Additionally, Cottage Inn, Lawless’s BBQ, and Kona Ice will be on-site with food and drink items available for purchase.”

Market House Supermarket is helping to sponsor the free lunches.

Many other organizations will also be present at the event. Last year, over 40 different local agencies were on-site and Stefanie says Great Start hopes to see similar participation this year.

“A number of agencies have already committed to being onsite this year but we expect many more to register between now and the event,” Stefanie explains.

Representatives from the community agencies and organizations will be present to share information and resources on many different safety topics.

“Topics anticipated to be addressed by agency partners include: firearms safety, child safety items in homes, emergency preparedness, safe sleep, school bus safety, car seat safety, bathtub/water safety, pet/animal safety, pool and lake safety, internet safety, safe driving, fire safety, suicide prevention, agricultural safety, banking safety, medication safety, and much, much more,” Stefanie says.

So far, over ten agencies are signed up, including Child Abuse Prevention & Awareness (CAPA), Greater Hillsdale Humane Society, Helping Hands Pregnancy Resource Center, and Domestic Harmony.

Local schools and emergency services will also use the Safety Fair as an opportunity to get out into the community.

“We anticipate fire trucks, ambulances, police vehicles, a school bus, and more to be on-site,” Stefanie says.

There will also be a wide variety of activities for kids and adults, free giveaways, and car seat inspections.

“There will be an opportunity for families to have their car seats inspected to ensure they are properly installed,” Stefanie says of the car seat inspections.

In addition to car seat inspections, free car seats will also be given out to those in need.

“Children must be present and in a motor vehicle in order to participate,” Stefanie says. “New seats will be available, free of charge, to Hillsdale County children in need of one. Pregnant moms within one month of their due date are also eligible.”

Stefanie says she is excited that Great Start can serve the community by holding the event.

“The intent is to provide a fun atmosphere for families to come spend some time while receiving education that can support all families,” she says. “In addition, ensuring families know where to go or who to call to access necessary support . . . is a priority for the event!”