Program Provides Free Books to Help Comfort Children in Crisis

The Fond du Lac Police Department will receive 31 first responder bags as part of the REACH-A-Child™ program, thanks to a $7,500 grant from the AT&T Foundation. Representatives from REACH-A-Child and AT&T will deliver the bags to the Fond du Lac Police Department tomorrow, Thursday, June 30, 2022 at 12:30 p.m.    

The program provides local sheriffs, police, EMTs and fire departments with First Responder REACH BAGs that contain a variety of children’s books given to children at the scene of an accident, house fire or other crisis. The goal is to redirect the children’s attention from the crisis at hand, allowing them to experience an educational escape from their fears. 

Each REACH BAG contains 15 books and 10 drawstring backpacks that are given out to children, one book and backpack at a time. The Fond du Lac Police Department will also receive extra new children’s books to help replenish REACH BAGs and to support upcoming community events hosted by the Police Department.

The $7,500 AT&T Foundation grant is part of AT&T’s philanthropic giving efforts to support our local communities. We invest our company’s resources and knowledge to advance access to education and training, improve lives, and strengthen the communities in which we live and work.

Who:  Assistant Chief Jason Laridaen, Fond du Lac Police Department
             Robyn Gruner, AT&T
             Cory Erickson, REACH-A-Child

 What: Presentation of REACH-A-Child™ first responder bags

 When:  Thursday, June 30, 2022, 12:30 p.m.

 Where: Fond du Lac Police Department       
                 126 N. Main Street
                 Fond du Lac