Lakewood United Methodist Church Hosts Family Fun Safety Night to Commemorate National Missing Children’s Day

Lakewood United Methodist Church and the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children® host a Family Fun Safety Night to commemorate National Missing Children’s Day 

WHAT: First proclaimed by former President Ronald Reagan in 1983 as National Missing Children’s Day, May 25th serves as an annual reminder to the nation to renew efforts to reunite missing children with their families, remember those who are still missing and make child protection a national priority. 

WHO: Lakewood United Methodist Church 

WHEN: May 29, 2009 at 6:00 pm 

WHERE: 15700 Detroit Avenue, Lakewood, Ohio 44107 

INFORMATION:  A potluck dinner will be held followed by a fun safety video for ages 2-12 years old.    Linda Summers, step-grandmother of local missing child, Ashley Summers, will be telling her family’s story.   Lakewood United Methodist Church will photograph children of all ages for ID Kits that will be given to their parents and guardians.   Other resources on how to talk to your children and teens about safety will be available. 

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION: One in nearly six missing children is recovered as a direct result of someone recognizing that child’s photograph in NCMEC’s photo-distribution program and contacting authorities. This is why it is so important that everyone pay close attention to posters and photographs of missing children.

In addition, NCMEC encourages parents and guardians to practice good safety measures by following the important safety tips noted below:  • Keep an accessible, up-to-date, good-quality photograph of your child in case of an emergency.• Never let young children go places alone. Be clear about the places and homes they may visit.• Know where your children are and whom they are with at all times.• Never leave children unattended in a vehicle, whether it’s running or not.• Talk openly to your children about safety. Make an outing to a mall or park a “teachable” moment. 

For ways your community can get involved in this important issue, call 1-800-THELOST ® (1-800-843-5678) or visit www.take25.org

ABOUT THE NATIONAL CENTER FOR MISSING & EXPLOITED CHILDREN® (NCMEC):  The National Center for Missing & Exploited Children is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. Since it was established by Congress in 1984, the organization has operated the toll-free 24-hour national missing children’s hotline which has handled more than 2.3 million calls. It has assisted law enforcement in the recovery of more than 132,314 children. The organization’s CyberTipline has handled more than 638,000 reports of child sexual exploitation and its Child Victim Identification Program has reviewed and analyzed more than 18,650,000 child pornography images and videos. The organization works in cooperation with the U.S. Department of Justice’s office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention. To learn more about NCMEC, call the toll-free, 24-hour hotline at 1-800-THE-LOST or visit its web site at www.missingkids.com

CONTACT:  Lakewood United Methodist Church, 216-226-8644 

proudly sponsored by: National Missing Children’s Day • May 25 • take25.org

Read More on Notices
Volume 5, Issue 10, Posted 9:40 AM, 05.06.2009