Pasadena Kiwanis Club Launches Public Safety Fair, Will Equip Children With Free Safety Gear

The Kiwanis Club of Pasadena is hosting its inaugural Public Safety Fair, a free community event aimed at promoting child safety and community engagement, on Saturday, Aug. 31, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Salvation Army Campus at 960 E. Walnut Street.

During the fair, the Kiwanis Club plans to distribute free safety equipment to children.

“We’re providing all this equipment for free, so there’s no cost for the families of course,” Chris Kolbeck, Club President, said. “And certainly we’re also providing some safety type of booklets that the parents can read up on to help them be better prepared and help them to prepare their children to be having fun in their community, in their neighborhoods in a safe manner.”

Hundreds of children with receive safety gear, including bike helmets, skateboard helmets, and protective padding such as elbow and knee pads, Kolbeck said.

By providing free equipment and educational resources to families in the Pasadena area, the organizers hope to address potential barriers to child safety. Families don’t need to pre-register for the event.

Kolbeck said the event is scheduled to feature demonstrations by local fire and police departments, as well as booths from approximately 15 different community organizations.

Confirmed participants are said to include the Pasadena Fire Department, Pasadena Police Department, Boys and Girls Club of Pasadena, American Foundation for Suicide Prevention, InCycle Pasadena Bicycle Shop, Kiwanis Literacy Club, Salvation Army of Pasadena, Villa Esperanza Services of Pasadena, Marshall High School Key Club, New York Life Child Identification Cards, Pasadena Motorcycle Club, and La Crescenta Valley High School Robotics Club.

“When I came up with this idea a few months ago, I approached the Chief of Police and the Fire Chief as well,” Kolbeck said. “They both were very exuberant and very happy about participating and providing vehicles and demonstrations to help the kids and the families be more informed and take a more active role in helping their kids stay safe.” 

The Public Safety Fair represents a collaborative effort between civic organizations and first responders to address child safety concerns in the community.

Organizers plan to make this an annual event in the last weekend of August to prepare children for the upcoming school year.

“This is our first one that we’ve organized, and we’ve made a determination to hold this every year moving forward,” Kolbeck stated.

The Kiwanis Club of Pasadena, a community service organization focused on improving the lives of children and families, is also seeking new members to join their initiatives. 

Kolbeck encouraged young adults and parents interested in community service to consider joining the club, with membership costing $30 per month. 

Interested individuals may visit the club’s website, https://k00239.site.kiwanis.org/, for more information.

The club engages in various initiatives, including community service projects, youth programs, and special events like the Rose Float Project. They raise funds through events to reinvest in community service projects and scholarships for local youth.