East Bridgewater Police, armed with a stack of ice cream gift certificates, will be patrolling town looking for kids wearing protective helmets while bike-riding.
(Image Courtesy East Bridgewater Police Department)
EAST BRIDGEWATER — Chief Michael Jenkins and the East Bridgewater Police Department are excited to announce a partnership with several local businesses to help motivate local children to wear a bicycle helmet while out pedaling around town.
“I just noticed in our town that many, many young kids aren’t wearing helmets while out riding their bicycles,” said Cary Whitmore, owner of Whitmore’s Yard Care. “We recently lost our daughter, and we just wanted to do something to protect young kids’ brains before tragedy strikes.”
Whitmore reached out to two local ice cream parlors in town, Skinners Sugar House and Ashland Dairy, and offered them each $250 for $500 worth of $10 gift certificates.
Both ice cream shops agreed, and the East Bridgewater Bicycle Helmet Initiative was born.
“We asked if they’d be willing, and both shops said ‘yes,’” Whitmore said. “The East Bridgewater Police Department has agreed to give out the gift cards as they see kids riding around town wearing protective gear. We’re hoping this initiative will create some momentum and possibly save lives, now or in the future.”
East Bridgewater Police will be patrolling town, as usual, and when they spot a safety-minded youngster, they’ll be armed with a stack of $10 ice cream gift cards as a reward.
Bike-riding children can also stop by the East Bridgewater Police Department at 153 Central St. to show off their helmets in exchange for a gift certificate.
“This is a perfect community-based initiative for a small town like ours,” said Chief Jenkins. “I hope the children of East Bridgewater hear our message and wear protective gear while out riding their bicycles. We’re ready to start handing out gift cards as we see kids wearing helmets. I can’t wait to see the same kids chilling in the shade, eating their well-earned ice cream treats.”
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