The Junior League of Central Westchester (JLCW) just completed its ninth successful session of Safety Town, a comprehensive educational program that introduces safety awareness and accident prevention to children entering Kindergarten.  Sixty-nine children participated in this year’s Safety Town program.  As part of the JLCW’s effort to make Safety Town accessible to the entire community, 18 children who are part of the Family Services of Westchester Head Start program in White Plains were able to attend Safety Town at no cost.  This year, topics covered by the 5-day program included fire, bicycle, water, stranger safety and more.

Under the guidance of teachers, local safety officials and community volunteers, children were prepared for real life situations.   Local safety officials from throughout the community were involved in the safety presentations and demonstrations.  These included a lifeguard from the Scarsdale Pool, a school bus driver, members of Scarsdale Volunteer Ambulance Corps (SVAC), members of the Scarsdale Police Department, and members and volunteers of the Fairview and Scarsdale Fire Departments.  Approximately thirty-five member volunteers from the JLCW helped to run the program, which was planned by a committee of thirteen JLCW members, who spent approximately 400 hundred combined volunteer hours planning the program.

Safety Town was conducted as a half-day mini-camp during the mornings of June 13-17 at Scarsdale Synagogue Temples Tremont and Emanu-El.  Children who live in or who attended preschool in 2010-2011 in the service area of the JLCW (Eastchester, Greenburgh, Scarsdale and White Plains), who are eligible to begin Kindergarten in September 2011, were able to enroll.

Safety Town was sponsored by Lead Sponsor Scarsdale Security Systems, Scholarship Sponsor State Farm Insurance, and four co-sponsors, Vivian Lem – State Farm Agent, Houlihan Lawrence, Clean Design and The Melting Pot – White Plains.  In addition, Shop Rite assisted by providing snacks for the participants.  The JLCW also appreciates the efforts of Scarsdale Synagogue Temples Tremont and Emanu-El, along with Mazel Tots preschool, in hosting the event.

The JLCW is an organization of women committed to promoting voluntarism, developing the potential of women, and improving the community through the effective action and leadership of trained volunteers.  Its purpose is exclusively educational and charitable.  The League invites women of all races, religions, and national origins who are committed to voluntarism to become a member.