Kids Day America

Coming To Sandy Hook

On May 19

On Saturday, May 19, communities worldwide will participate in the 13th annual Kids Day America/International, a health, safety, and environmental awareness day. Drs Rod and Mayumi Deraney are sponsoring the local activity from 11 am until 3 pm at Sandy Hook Elementary School, 12 Dickinson Drive, Sandy Hook. The event will be held rain or shine.

The event will provide essential information on crime prevention, Internet and child safety, and environmental awareness. The Deraneys’ office will donate special child ID cards to every child who attends, and the Newtown Police Department will be on hand to provide free fingerprinting of all the children.

Dental Associates will be doing teeth imprinting, which will provide parents and public officials with teeth imprints and DNA samples in the event they are ever needed. Amber Alert IDs will also be available.

Additionally, there will be special appearances by SpongeBob SquarePants at 1 pm, and ongoing book signings by Little Critters author and illustrator Mercer Mayer. The Sandy Hook Volunteer Fire Department is bringing a fire truck and smoke trailer, and will teach fire safety tips to the children. Sparky the Fire Dog will be at the event all day.

Drs Rod and Mayumi Deraney will provide free health screenings, and will be distributing vital information on disease prevention and natural health care.

“We will also provide free balloons, and food for everyone,” Dr Rod Deraney said. “There will be special giveaways and free prize drawings every half-hour.”

“In addition we are raising money for Families Network of Western Connecticut,” added Dr Mayumi Deraney. “We are asking attendees to bring a grocery bag full of their clean, gently used children’s clothing to help our charity.” Attendees are asked to provide just one bag filled with gently used clothing, which will be resold to benefit the charity. Clothes cannot be stained, and undergarments cannot be accepted.

The event is free.

Children’s Empowerment Awards will be presented at noon, honoring individuals in the community who have made a major impact on the lives of children, Dr Mayumi Derany said this week. Being honored on Saturday will be Fire Prevention Officer Bob Nute, Police Officer David Kullgren, Superintendent of Schools Evan Pitkoff, Colonel William Rodgers, Mercer Mayers, and Sue Giglio, the director of Families Network of Western Connecticut, Inc.

“This year is especially exciting for Kids Day America/International, as it is being represented nationally by celebrity spokesperson, Jonathan Lipnicki, star of such films as Jerry Maguire with Tom Cruise, and Stuart Little 1 and 2,” said national event founders Drs Theresa and Stuart Warner. “We encourage the entire Newtown community to join Drs Rod and Mayumi Deraney by participating May 19 at this unique, fun-filled community awareness event.”

According to the Deraneys, volunteers are still needed to help make this event a success.

“We need volunteers that are 15 years old and up,” Dr Rod Deraney said. “The volunteers should plan to arrive by about 9 am, and are invited to stay as long as their schedule allows.”

Any individuals or families that are able to help are asked to call 426-6334.