Reflections
on the past year (July, 2006 to June, 2007)
*Reflections is updated each July for the previous year*
The Back To School Supply Program 2006: In July 2006, the Foundation distributed backpacks and school supplies in our 7th Annual Back to School Supply Program. For the 7th year in a row, over 100 needy children received overstuffed backpacks including items such as notebooks, paper, pens, pencils, rulers, scissors, glue, erasers, calculators, crayons, markers, dividers, binders and many more of the supplies needed to give them a good start in school. The program was designed to help needy school age children have the proper supplies thereby letting them concentrate on their schoolwork, and hopefully giving them a brighter future through education.
The Tour Sponsor Program 2006: With the 2006 Kid's Firehouse Museum summer tour schedule fully booked by May, we again asked our area residents and businesses to help by being "Tour Sponsors". Thanks to their generous support, not only did the Museum have a banner summer, we welcomed over 10,000 children throughout the course of the year. All the children learn life saving fire safety tips while viewing the 9000 square foot Museum's 12 antique fire engines. After the tour, it's off to the theater to watch a fire safety video and practice stop, drop and roll. Fire Safety Information Packages are given to all kids to take home. The Museum also boasts a fire engine red playground with picnic benches and a covered gazebo for our lunch guests.
The Annual Spring Kids and Kops Fishing Tournament: On Saturday, April 14, 2007, with the help of the Pinellas County Sheriff's Department and half-dozen Pinellas Park Explorer Scouts, we hosted the 22nd Annual Kids & Kops Fishing Tournament at the North Skyway Fishing Pier. Safety was the goal for the 300 tournament participants from Pinellas, Pasco and Hillsborough counties. Lots of free food and door prizes were given away while the children competed for 9 trophies in 3 different age groups.
The 13th Annual Thanksgiving Food Program: In November 2006, the 13th Annual Thanksgiving Food Program provided hundreds of single parent families and other less fortunate people in Pinellas and Hillsborough counties an opportunity to enjoy a delicious meal on Thanksgiving Day. The Foundation believes that the holidays are a time of family togetherness, even though in many cases the whole family unit is not intact. This time of year is a great time to promote family values.
The Annual Kid's Christmas Party: On December 23rd, 2006 the Foundation welcomed 300 children to their 22nd Annual Kid's Christmas Party. Volunteers helped mom (or dad) bring the bags and bags of toys to their cars to wait for Christmas morning while the little ones got a chance to have a hot lunch, play on the playground, and visit the "toy room" where Santa's elves helped them pick out a couple toys just for coming to the party! The Foundation is proud to have been providing toys for thousands of children since 1984.
The Annual Fall Kid's & Kop's Fishing Tournament: On October 22, 2005 the Kid's & Kop's Fishing Tournament was back out at the North Skyway Pier for 4 hours of fishing. The Pinellas County Sheriff's Marine Unit was in attendance to work with the 350 participants from Pinellas, Pasco and Hillsborough Counties. Mackerel was the catch of of the day for many of the 9 trophy winners and 100's of prizes were awarded at the end of the tournament. As this program continues to flourish and grow, the Foundation is considering adding an additional tournament at some point in the future. (The Foundation did not have the time in the scheduling for a fall tournament in 2006).
The Annual Easter Food Program: In April, 2007, the 5th Annual Easter Food Program provided over ONE HUNDRED needy Pinellas County families with a delicious meal for the Easter holiday. For the 5th year in a row, this program was a great success thanks to our many generous sponsors. This program was introduced not only to provide nutritious food but to also encourage family values and togetherness throughout the year.
The Annual Junior Marshal Day BBQ: On Saturday, March 10, 2007 the Kid's Firehouse Museum hosted their Annual Junior Marshal Day. The weather could not have been better for the over 150 visitors who went on guided tours of the Museum. All the children who participated received free safety literature, plastic hats and badges. Visitors also had an opportunity to watch fire safety videos and enjoy a great lunch of BBQ chicken, hot dogs and all the sides. Clowns were on hand to entertain this year's participants with face painting/balloons. The playground was also the scene for more than 50 lucky participants to win door prizes ranging from t-shirts to weekend stays at area hotels.
The Juvenile Photo-ID & Fingerprint Program: Since 1984, the Foundation has distributed several million Juvenile Photo-ID & Fingerprint kits to daycare centers, preschools, elementary schools and Police and Sheriff's departments. This program has always been free to any parent or guardian wishing to have a personal identification record of their child. Each kit contains a section for the child's fingerprint, photograph, hair strand (DNA) and physical description.
Additional Services: The Foundation has an active toll free 800- number to assist families in distress as well as a library of safety information for anyone in need. Each year the Foundation continues to update and add new information to the library.
Additional Services: In the 2006-2007 year, the Foundation worked with several groups. Some received free tickets to our events, while others benefited from the holiday programs only. The groups included: Community Pride/Gateway, Foundation Village, P-Tech, Building Blocks Learning Center, National Council of Negro Women, Healthy Families St. Pete and Largo, Department of Children & Families, The Haven Transitional Living Program, Stepping Stone, Kimberly Home, Enoch Davis Center, Children of the World Preschool, Gulfcoast Community Care, Big Brothers Big Sisters of Pinellas & Hillsborough, Family Continuity, Pinellas Village, PARC St. Pete, PARC Burkett Group Home, Rainbow Village, Pinellas County Urban League, Resource Center for Women, and many individuals not associated with the above groups.
Also, the hundreds of schools, daycare and other groups attending the Kid's Firehouse Museum year-round, as well as the thousands of recipients of the Kid's Fingerprint & Photo Identification Kits sent out each year.
Thank You!!!!
This past year was a special year for everyone who participated in our programs. We would like to thank all of our faithful sponsors and volunteers because without them, these needed programs would not be FREE to all recipients.