******  FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE  ******

TOMS RIVER TOWNSHIP DEPARTMENT OF YOUTH SERVICES  

TO HOST FAMILY DAY 2007

            Toms River Township Youth Department of Youth Services at 1505 North Bay Avenue will host Family Day 2007 on Friday, June 29^th from 11 AM to 3 PM.  This is an indoor – outdoor event and admission is free.  It is open to all Toms River Township pre-k and elementary aged schoolchildren and their families.  All children must be accompanied by an adult and all guests must register at the door.  A rain date of Monday, July 2^nd has been scheduled.

            The Township’s Municipal Alliance, Youth Services Department, Toms River Elks Lodge #1875, Communities Against Substance Abuse, Inc. (C.A.S.A.), and the Toms River Police Foundation are co-sponsoring Family Day.  They have invited more than 40 social service, safety, and health-related agencies to the event.  Most are non-profit, local, county, or state agencies.  They will provide free give-aways, health screenings, and educational information on a variety of topics for parents and children alike.  There will also be crafts, games, activities, entertainment, popcorn, and cotton candy for the children.  Several costumed characters will mingle with the crowd throughout the day including Buster the Lakewood BlueClaws mascot.   WOBM Radio will be on hand with its promotional team as well.

            Community Medical Center’s Burn Unit education trailer will be there to educate youngsters on home fire prevention and safety.  The Ocean County Department of Corrections will stage its puppet show and bring along its educational robots. The NJ State Police will demonstrate their “Fatal Vision” goggles, teaching youngsters about the effects of alcohol on a driver’s coordination.  Athwal Eye Center will perform vision screenings.  Brick Hearing Aid Center will provide screenings by a licensed audiologist for children with parental permission and adults who may be interested.  The NJ State Division of Deaf and Hard of Hearing will offer an equipment display and demonstration.  Braden Chiropractic Center will offer health screenings and Body, Mind, and Stress Management of Toms River will provide free therapeutic massages for adults.  Health South Rehabilitation Hospital will participate with health screening information and an interactive metronome demonstration.  The Epilepsy Foundation will raffle off numerous free child bicycle helmets throughout the day and present bicycle safety information.  Dermascan (skin cancer), body mass index, and bone density (osteoporosis) screenings will be offered for free, as well.  Ocean County 4-H will participate with some of its young members and their baby animals like fancy fowl, goats, and bunnies.

            Approximately 40 teenage volunteers from Together Everyone Achieves More (T.E.A.M.) will coordinate with Youth Service Staff and the Municipal Alliance to stage this growing annual event.  They are students from within the Toms River High Schools who volunteer for numerous community activities and earn points toward academic scholarships.  They will be manning crafts tables, organizing games, and doing face painting for the children. 

            Helen McGovern, Deputy Coordinator for the Municipal Alliance stated, “Family Day brings educational programs, free and low cost services, non profit agencies, support systems, and opportunities to our residents in an atmosphere of fun and games.  Family health, safety, and education is our focus for the day.”  She added, “Each year, this event grows in size.  People call our office year round to find out when we are doing this again and how they might participate.  New agencies want to be a part of this and so many families anticipate this day of fun, free education and entertainment.  It’s great for professionals who want to network and for healthcare and social service organizations that have no advertising budgets.”

            For more information on Family Day 2007, please call the Toms River Township Municipal Alliance at (732) 341-1000 x 8490 or the Youth Services Department at (732) 341-1000 x 8436 weekdays, 9 AM to 4 PM.

Helen McGovern, Deputy Coordinator, Toms River Township Municipal Alliance

(732) 341-1000 x 8490 or cell @ (732) 966-4989

June 14, 2007