The Warren area Fraternal Order of the Police #124 (FOP), together with Center Line Lodge No. 550, hosted a Pizza and Child Identification party at the Christopher M. Wouters FOP lodge in Warren.

Nearly 300 children were identified at the event, 200 of them receiving free

bicycle helmets donated by the Warren Police Athletic League (PAL), a youth crime prevention program that seeks to build trust and understanding between police officers and youth through educational and recreational activities. Everyone enjoyed free pizza, pop, popcorn and cotton candy, along with safety-themed coloring books, stickers and crayons.

The event's main coordinator, Officer Bernadette Najor, decided to bring the event together after visiting a Masonic Child ID Program event with her own children earlier this year. When asked what made her choose to coordinate an identification event with the Masons, Najor replied that, "It is my biggest fear that he (Najor's youngest son who, classified as severely delayed in speech, uses sign language to speak) will not be able to communicate who he is or who I am, if, God forbid, we get separated. When I had my boys' ID kits done, I felt a slight bit of relief and felt that I had to help other parents who have children like mine. As a police officer, I knew programs like this existed but I wasn't too sure how to become part of them. I was very fortunate to meet (Mason) Larry Gibson at the Center Line Lodge event. It started with just a little idea but with the help of Officers Mike Sauger (PAL) and Scott Taylor (FOP), it turned into a huge event, one that we hope to continue annually. Though I hope and pray that none of the kits that were made on Sunday will ever need to be used, as a police officer, I know that they probably will." Officer Najor was also personally familiar with the charitable efforts of the Masons as her grandfather was himself one.

Among the countless volunteers on hand were members of the Warren Explorer program, a law enforcement career orientation program that provides youth aged 14 to 21 with opportunities to "try out" being an officer. Other volunteers included Warren police officers and at least 40 volunteers from Center Line Lodge and the Warren area Rainbow Girls.

For more information on the Michigan Masonic Child ID Program, visit the program website at http://www.michiganchildid.org or contact the program director, Chris Siebenmark, at 989-466-3087.