Wayne Township strengthens community bonds with annual safety event

Indianapolis, Indiana – Wayne Township successfully held its yearly ‘Public Safety Day Celebration’ on Saturday, with an additional component of a food drive benefiting close to 300 families.

The event was hosted in the Sam’s Club parking facility on Rockville Road, Indianapolis. It encompassed the participation of over 500 vendors, offered numerous resource booths, orchestrated various games and activities, and showcased a car exhibit presented by the Ben Davis Lions, among other attractions.

Those who attended had the opportunity to avail free lunch, influenza vaccinations, smoke detectors, and pertinent information concerning dental and general health services.

Courtney Rice, the Assistant Chief of Administration for Wayne Township Fire Department, remarked, “Most of what we do is see people on the worst days of their lives. This is a chance to give them something when they’re not facing that issue.” Rice also noted the concerning statistic that approximately 25% of fires they respond to occur in residences lacking smoke detectors. She further stated, “We can get them to think about fire safety in their home, get them a meal and free clothes. That’s what Wayne Township is about.”

In line with the Public Safety Day, Miller Pipeline and Gleaners collaborated to support and aid families facing food insecurity. Nikki Augheneaugh, Service Manager at Gleaners Network, shared, “With the rising food cost, our goal is not only to provide free food, but nutritious and fresh food as well.” She added that their food drive provisioned attendees with fresh produce, protein, and dairy products.

For Wayne Township residents who couldn’t attend the event, the fire department’s primary facility is offering free smoke detectors for collection.