This Saturday the community is invited out to a free picnic at the Plant City Stadium where they can get to know their local first responders.
The Plant City Stadium will be alive with activity on Saturday, August 5 from 11 a.m. until 2 p.m. for the third annual community picnic with first responders.
The event, organized by a collaborative effort between local authorities, emergency services and iImpact PC, aims to dispel any apprehensions children might have towards first responders and foster a deeper understanding and appreciation for their crucial roles in safeguarding the community.
First responders, including firefighters, police officers, paramedics and EMT’s will be on hand to interact with community members in a fun and engaging atmosphere. They’ll also have several pieces of equipment they use every day on display, including motorcycles, firetrucks and the PCPD’s BearCat. Children will be able to sit on the motorcycles, press the firetruck’s horn and check out inside the BearCat.
“It’s beautiful to watch the children get excited about what these men and women do for a living and even the officers enjoy talking about their equipment and how they use it to save lives,” said iImpactPC founder Danny McIntyre. “This is a great way for our first responders to just relax and interact with the community.”
The annual event started three years ago following a conversation between McIntyre and PCPD Chief James Bradford. “During that conversation we talked about how kids are afraid of the police so we wanted to find a way to bridge the gap between first responders and the community they serve,” said McIntyre. “This event is to help youth understand that first responders don’t just work in our community but serve in our community and are a part of what makes Plant City strong.”
Bradford considers it an essential lesson that children be taught to respect the law and trust police officers and understand that in addition to fighting crime, they also offer help in times of crisis. “We want our children to be informed of everything relating to safety, and for kids to know that the police are the ones that keep people safe is paramount to a healthy mindset,” he said. “Children can be comforted in knowing that the police will help them when they have no one else to turn to, especially if they are afraid, lost, or in danger.”
Event attendees will receive t-shirts. The first 500 children that come will receive a backpack and school supplies but there’s a catch. If a child wants a backpack, they’ll be given a wristband then will have to visit at least two stations, where first responders will put a mark on their wristband. Children can then take their wristband to the Buffalo Soldiers, who’ll be passing out the backpacks and school supplies.
The first 100 teachers that attend will receive a $50 gift card, a tumbler and a lunch box that says ‘I Love My Plant City First Responders.’
The event, which will also include free food (hot dogs, chips, bottled water, kettle corn and sno-cones) is completely free.
McIntyre said the event is for everyone and he hopes it will inspire some children to consider their future career goals.
“We had kids who attended last year tell their parents that when they grew up they wanted to be a policeman or a firefighter,” said McIntyre. “To me, that makes it worth it.”
