Kidsfest teaches safety using family fun
By Steve Herring
Published in News on September 24, 2017 1:45 AM
Full Size
News-Argus/CASEY MOZINGO
Big Bob from the Seymour Johnson Air Force Base fire department holds his hand up for a high-five from Mason Hayden, 2, at Kids Fest Saturday. Mason gained enough courage to give Bob a high-hive and then quickly ran away.
Full Size
News-Argus/CASEY MOZINGO
Karina Morataya, 5, and Isabella Morataya, 7, stand on the top of a Rosewood Volunteer Fire Department truck.
Isaac Kellar, 8, was barely visible as he sat behind the steering wheel of a massive fire truck from Seymour Johnson Air Force Base.
He worked the wheel left and right as hard as he could and tried to work some of the controls. The task completed, he hopped out ready to find another fire truck to climb on.
"I was like driving or flying because it has like a little controller," he said. "It was like driving a monster truck.
The fire trucks, he said, were his favorite at the 20th annual Kidsfest held Saturday from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Berkeley Mall.
However, Isaac said he does not want to be a firefighter when he grows up -- he wants to be a video game designer.
Isaac said he had been in fire trucks before and had learned all about them.
And that was the goal of the free event -- to education children and their families about health and safety in a fun, child-friendly environment.
Kidsfest was organized by Wayne Community College, the Wayne County Health Department, the Partnership for Children of Wayne County, The Bridge Church, Seymour Johnson Air Force Base, several local fire departments and local law enforcement agencies.
Activities and booths were located in the parking lot in front of JCPenney and throughout the inside of the mall.
There were lines for the fire trucks and for the facepainting.
Children could learn about water and fire safety, how to be prepared in case of a disaster and for the first time ever at Petsmart, just behind Berkeley Mall, children could learn about how to approach animals, how to handle service animals, knowing that animals must be vaccinated and kept healthy and more.
Arnesia Graham of the Mar-Mac area was at the event with her three grandsons ages 7 months, 2 and 3.
The children enjoyed the fire trucks, but Graham was particularly interested in the child safety seat inspections.
"I think it is really good," she said. "The community needs this information. Young kids need to know that law enforcement officers are safe and that it is good to get to get to know our law enforcement and our fire departments because they are out there helping save lives."
Graham said she had been to the event in the past so she was familiar with what was going on.