Youth Soccer & Safety ID Program

Yesterday Cross Roads hosted the opening day of the Westfield Recreation Department’s Fall Soccer season.

Youth soccer players in the 4-5 year old age bracket and those in the 6-8 year group faced off in the fields surrounding the Market. The children played games hourly beginning at 10 a.m. Folks who wanted to watch some fun peewee soccer action and cheer on the kids were invited to visit Cross Roads, bring a lawn chair, and enjoy the beauty of Cross Roads rolling hills and scenery. So much fun to watch. Not sure the kids even noticed the wet field or the light sprinkles of rain.

Wendy, the owner of Fudge & Stuff, had $1 ice cream cones for any child wearing their soccer jerseys during the event. Victoria, of Lornaments, offered face painting to children and adults alike. George, the owner of Maple Country USA, as always had his delicious spun maple sugar candy.

Stephanie, owner of Gypsy's Trinkets, arranged for the Masons to come up and conduct a Child Identification Program (CHIP). Many parents took advantage of this service. The CHIP programs allow parents the opportunity to create a kit of identifying materials for their child, free of charge. The kit contained a fingerprint card, a physical description, a video, computer disk or DVD of the child, a dental imprint, and a DNA sample. The purpose of the kit is to provide critical information to the public and to law enforcement in the event that a child goes missing. The program has been lauded by the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children.

The DVD, besides capturing appearance and voice, includes questions tailored toward the child's age group and can assist in finding children who might be missing for other reasons besides abduction. It also contained coloring pages to teach children about safety.  The information cards are compatible the NYS Amber Alert system.

The NY Masonic Safety ID (MSID) Program now encompasses ids for students, college students, elderly or disabled persons, anyone who might go missing.   

Quoted from the NY Mason's website

The first several hours after a child, elderly, or disabled person is reported missing can be critical to the successful outcome of the case. Having valuable information about the Child (missing person) ready and at hand for Law enforcement agencies is imperative. The MSID's FREE Program is designed to help parents with having this information ready and available when needed

Such a wonderful program. You can check their Safety ID Events here. You might find one in your neighborhood.