2023 Back to School Community Safety Fair
A popular event that gives community members the opportunity to interact with first responders and learn about public safety resources in Douglas County will return for the first time since the pandemic.
The Back to School Safety Fair will be from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., Saturday, Aug. 5, at South Park, 1141 Massachusetts St. Community agencies last offered the fair 2018 and 2019, and all Lawrence and Douglas County residents are invited to the fair to learn more about personal, family and community safety best practices as well as about the local resources available.
“We’re excited to participate in this safety fair. For us, the best accidents are the ones that we prevent, and we’d much rather interact with our community at a fun event like this,” said Fire Chief Rich Llewellyn of Lawrence-Douglas County Fire Medical. “If you do need us, you can trust that you’ll get a professional, well-trained team of responders to assist with your injury, illness, fire or other emergency.”
The Lawrence Police Department, Lawrence-Douglas County Fire Medical, Douglas County Sheriff’s Office, City of Lawrence Parks and Recreation Department and Douglas County Emergency Management are co-hosts of the event. Several other community partners are scheduled to attend and offer information about safety and health.
“Each time an event returns after the pandemic, it’s a reminder of the importance of doing things together as a community,” Sheriff Jay Armbrister said. “The Sheriff’s Office is excited about the return of the Community Safety Fair with our public safety partners. We look forward to being able to meet community members and answer any questions they have about public safety resources in the community and talk to them about the work we do every day.”
Similar to the initial events prior to the pandemic, the fair focuses on a wide variety of areas of safety.
Organizers invite anyone in the community to attend, but as summer winds down, it can be a great time for families and students to explore any potential needs for safety and bring any questions they might have about Lawrence or Douglas County.
The Douglas County Sheriff’s Office and Lawrence Police Department will have child safety-seat technicians at the fair to check car seats and provide information. DGSO will also have it Underwater Search and Recovery boat on site, and the Douglas County Consolidated Fire District No. 1 will provide information about fire safety. Lawrence-Douglas County Fire Medical will offer a helmet giveaway and plans to have its smoke trailer at the fair.
Agencies will provide vehicles for children and members of the public to see up close, and Lawrence-Douglas County Public Health will have its mobile unit on site to provide information. Additional participants and activities will be announced closer to the fair’s date.
Cram the cruiser donations
The return of the Community Safety Fair for the first time since 2019 means the Cram-the-Cruiser Competition is back. The Lawrence Police Department, Lawrence-Douglas County Fire Medical and the Douglas County Sheriff’s Office will operate a school supply drive and competition during the fair.
All three agencies will bring an SUV to encourage people to donate and fill them with school supplies that will be donated for area students.
The agencies ask community members to bring supplies to donate at the fair. Individuals place their donations in the SUV of the agency they would like to win the friendly competition. The vehicle with the most supplies at the end wins the competition!
