BFF Helps Washington Shores Kids Prepare to Head Back to Class

Is June too early to start prepping for Back to School? Families in Washington Shores say absolutely not!

Best Foot Forward joined more than 100 kids and families at Commissioner Samuel Ings’ “Washington Shores Back to School Jump Start to Wellness Day” on June 29. The event took place at the Dr. James R. Smith Neighborhood Center at Washington Shore Park. Orange County students won’t be going back to class for more than a month, but they now have a head start to ensure the transition from summer to school is a breeze.

Kids were given backpacks, school supplies, free health physicals and of course, properly fitted bike helmets to help jumpstart their back to school preparation. BFF and several other community vendors set up tables at the event to help educate the community about health and safety. Concerns about speeding and distracted driving were a hot topic among neighbors, but some said that the addition of rectangular rapid flashing beacons (RRFB) at crosswalks in their area has made them feel safer when crossing the street.

Community members also had the chance to have vendor tables sign off on a card which they could complete and trade in for a free bagged lunch. Getting involved in your community and learning about ped/bike safety in exchange for free food? Not a bad deal!

BFF was joined at the event by Helmets Save Lives volunteers Joshua Barzey and Rossemary Frick. Helmets Save Lives is a new, nonprofit organization that promotes the use of bicycle helmets and educates children on general bike safety. With their help, more than 40 kids received properly fitted bike helmets. We love to see more advocacy for ped/bike safety in Central Florida – thank you for coming!