Kid Expo teaches, serves youth
Annual event raises funds for Child & Family Center’s mental health services
Golden Valley High School opened its gym on Sunday to Santa Clarita families and businesses for the 15th annual Kid Expo, a fundraiser for the Child & Family Center.
“This event brings all of community partners together that are focused on services and programs for children in our community and it also gives kids a fun opportunity to come out and just enjoy it,” said Joan Aschoff, the Child & Family Center’s CEO.
Around 60 businesses set up information booths handing out fliers, pens and candy, in the spirit of Halloween.
Proceeds for the event go toward supporting the center’s mental health services for children suffering from emotional or behavioral problems.
“It’s interesting to watch (the event) change as our community has changed,” Aschoff said. “Different vendors come in to offer what they provide to the community and to connect with the kids.”
Children broke wooden boards with T.K. Tae Kwon Do, received plastic teeth from Adventure Dental, spinned wheels with the Child & Family Center and even learned about safety with the teachers of Safety Town.
“We teach the kids disaster preparedness, fire safety, stranger danger and things like that,” said safety teacher Stephanie Molt.
Although this was their first visit, they received a lot of positive feedback from the community, Molt said. “It’s been wonderful.”
Visiting with his family, Chris Hoetger’s children loved to spin the wheels.
“It’s our third year in a row, at least, because we always learn about new things in the community that we didn’t even know were here, every year,” he said.
To find out more about the Child & Family Center’s services, go to http:// www.childfamilycenter.org.