(Tiffany Goodwein/CHATNEWSToday)

By Tiffany Goodwein

Safety City has been helping children for over 40 years

Feb 20, 2022 | 12:05 PM

MEDICINE HAT-AB– Every year, thousands of children go through programming at Safety City. Built on the mantra of “It takes a village to raise a child,” the non-profit believes the same is true when it comes to teaching kids about safety.

“We educate kids in the schools about making better life choices and decisions. Whether it is dealing with cyberbullying, or staying home alone,” said Safety City chair Ron Pennington.

In the last four weeks alone, Safety City launched its bully-proofing program for which has already reached over 1000 local kids.

Safety City also has simulated streets to help kids learn more about bike safety, and they offer car seat inspections and installations.

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Just three years ago, Pennington said, Safety City was at risk of closing up for good. But Pennington said restructuring , and finding new funding sources helped them keep their doors open.

But just when they thought Safety City was in the clear, COVID-19 hit. The organization closed operations for six months and relaunched its school programs in 2021. But like many non-profits funding has been tight and the organization recently pressed pause on their operations again for a few weeks in order to reassess.

“ Funding has completely changed. Organizations were relying a lot on government funding and things like that. Safety City was as well and those resources are starting to dry up. Everyone is trying to receive money from the same locations and there is just not as much anymore,” Pennington said.

Safety City is now looking to build stronger partnerships in the city in order to keep its programs afloat so that more kids can be educated for years to come.

“If we can have a child make one decision that prevents one accident from happening, I think it is all worthwhile,” Pennington said.

Anyone interested in becoming a partner is asked to contact Ron Pennington at 587-253-2020