MFDand Children’s Service Society of Wisconsin Team Up for Respite Event

May 30, 2008                                                   

MEDIA ALERT

Milwaukee Fire Department and Children’s Service Society of Wisconsin Team Up for Respite Event

WHAT:        Volunteer Respite Event

WHEN:      Saturday, May 31, 2008

                   9 a.m. – 3 p.m.

WHERE:  Milwaukee safety Academy

                 6680 North Teutonia Avenue— 

                 Parking Lot, Gym and Room 182 

DETAILS:      The Milwaukee Fire Department (MFD) and Children’s Service Society of Wisconsin (CSSW) have teamed up for the Society’s monthly Volunteer Respite Event. MFD will help facilitate the event at the Milwaukee Safety Academy, May 31, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Approximately 13 MFD personnel will be onsite, including an engine company, paramedic unit and the Survive Alive mobile unit, to educate 75 special-needs children on fire safety issues.

“The Volunteer Respite Event is a great partnership between a public and private entity coming together to improve the health and safety of our community,” said Ellen Anderson, respite car coordinator for CSSW. 

This month’s Volunteer Respite Event is expecting 100-130 volunteers, and 75 children comprised of special-needs kids and their siblings. Each child is matched with one or two volunteers, and a majority of this event’s volunteers is Marquette nursing students. At the event, there will also be five nurses and four behavioral specialists to assist with children. Throughout the day, children will partake in activities such as arts and crafts, table games, bingo, face painting and much more.

CSSW is a non-profit agency part of the Children’s Hospital and Health System. The society holds Respite Events at various locations throughout the city and has already hosted 12 this year. At the events, children with special needs and their siblings are matched with volunteers for a day filled with fun activities. The events are created to give the parents/caregivers of these children a much-needed break, and an opportunity to escape the stress involved in caring for a special-needs child.

All the children present at the event range in ages from infant to 18 years old. In addition, their challenges range from sight and hearing impairment, cognitive and developmental delays, cerebral palsy, Down syndrome, autism, and much more.

We welcome the media to attend this event and observe the activities during the course of the day. Interviews are available upon request.