The Greene County Public Health (GCPH) office is hosting a Cribs for Kids Pack-n-Play Giveaway and Car Seat Inspection event on Tuesday, March 24 from 1-3 p.m.
This is the third year this event has been hosted, and it was expanded from just a giveaway to also a car seat inspection event starting in 2025. The inspections are done by the Ohio Buckles Buckeyes program.
The purpose of this event is to support young families in the Greene County area by providing them with strollers and other necessities for caring for a baby, checking the equipment for safety and giving a demonstration of how to set up and use everything.
Camille Edwards, the Health Education Program Manager for GCPH, shared how this event makes an impact.
“On average, we would distribute about 14 cribs at each giveaway. This means 14 families would now be able to provide a safe sleeping environment for their babies and 14 babies have a better chance of making it to their first birthday,” Edwards said.
The event will include handing out Infant Survival Kits, which will come with a Pack-N-Play, fitted sheet, sleeping sack and safe sleeping information. It will also include car and booster seats that families can receive and have inspected for safety.
Shannon Burnett, a former Wright State University (WSU) student, and young mom, shared how knowing about events like this could have helped her when she was pregnant.
“As a single mom, events like this would have been life changing for me when I was at WSU. For those who don’t have a village, relying on the community is a must,” Burnett said.
To be eligible for the event, you must be a resident of Greene County, either be at least 32 weeks pregnant or have a child under the age of one and qualify for WIC, SNAP or Medicaid.
The event is put on by the GCPH, Public Health Dayton and Montgomery County (PHDMC) and Dayton Children’s Hospital.
“The cribs come from a partnership with PHDMC. They are the recipients of the Cribs for Kids grant so they supply cribs for our county as well. The Ohio Buckles Buckeyes program is through Dayton Children’s Hospital,” Edwards said.
These organizations try to put on multiple events each year to reach as many people in the community as possible. For those unable to attend the giveaway on March 24, they can reach out to (937) 374-5621 to still receive the services.
Laurie Fox, the Public Information Officer for GCPH, shared a press release with information and details about the event and why it is so important.
“Three babies die each week in Ohio because of unsafe sleep. Babies are safest when they sleep Alone, on their Back, in an empty Crib; the ABCs of Safe Sleep,” Fox said.
It is crucial that families know the proper ways to care for their infants and have access to the proper tools. This giveaway will ensure both, with the donations and safety checks from the Ohio Buckles Buckeyes program.
