Gilroy Honda hosts ‘Project Safekids’
Gilroy – Concerned about your child’s safety? Then do something about it.
For the second year, Gilroy Honda is hosting “Project Safekids,” a child safety event where parents can learn more about protecting their children from dangers in the community.
Officers from the California Highway Patrol, Santa Clara County Sheriff’s office and Gilroy Police Department will be on scene to teach public safety and reach out to community members Saturday. Gilroy’s mounted unit and K9 division, as well as the Sheriff’s Underwater Search and Rescue Unit and CHP officers simulating a roll over accident will provide demonstrations and talks for kids.
Last year, more than 300 children were fingerprinted using digital technology so that parents could easily issue an Amber Alert if needed.
“In case, God forbid, that their child was abducted they would be able to have information readily available to be disseminated across the state or nationwide,” explained Sales Manager and event coordinator Mark Baines.
After the child safety portion of the event, a public forum on Jessica’s Law will be held from 4 to 6pm. Jessica’s Law was written after 9-year-old Jessica Lunsford was kidnapped, raped and murdered in Florida last year in order to increase penalties for violent and habitual sex offenders.
Mark Lunsford, Jessica’s father, will host the talk. He will be joined by Santa Clara County Deputy District Attorney Jim Shore and Assemblywoman Sharon Runner (R-Antelope Valley) discussing the November ballot issue.
“It’s not a debate or political rally. It’s just we want awareness out there,” Baines said.
Earlier this month Jessica’s Law was added to the November ballot after it collected more than 524,000 valid signatures – only 373,816 were required.
“We wanted to have this safety event for the kids,” Baines said. “And so that law enforcement agencies can talk to the kids about staying in school, wearing their seatbelts, and staying off drugs.”
The event runs from 10am to 4pm for the child safety portion and the public forum is from 4 to 6pm at 7600 Chestnut St.
For more information contact Scott Woods at 217-391-4742.
