The Portage Police and Fire Departments will be receiving “REACH BAGs”, courtesy of Fearing’s Audio Video Security and REACH-A-Child.
A “REACH BAG” is a durable backpack filled with new children’s books and drawstring backpacks. First Responders across Wisconsin use books from a REACH BAG to comfort children they encounter in crisis situations. The books also serve to distract the child from the source of the trauma.
The delivery to the Police Department (117 West Pleasant Street) will take place at 1:00pm on Wednesday, April 19 when they will receive seven REACH BAGs. An additional seven REACH BAGs will be provided to the Fire Department (119 West Pleasant Street) immediately thereafter. The Departments will also receive hundreds of additional children’s books for community engagement purposes.
The children’s books and backpacks are being delivered by REACH-A-Child, a Madison-based nonprofit which has been providing these resources to First Responders in Wisconsin since 2007. The donation from Fearing’s Audio Video Security enabled REACH-A-Child to acquire hundreds of new books and backpacks for the Portage First Responders.
REACH-A-Child currently serves over 300 First Responder Departments in the state, and distributes in excess of 25,000 new children’s books to that network annually. More information about REACH-A-Child is available at www.reachachild.org or contact Curt Fuszard (608-345-5147) or curt.fuszard@reachachild.org.