KINGSTON, LUZERNE COUNTY (WBRE/WYOU) — Tomato enthusiasts are coming together as Pittston's Tomato Festival continues for day two, but the event isn’t just about food and fun.
Black bags are getting filled, ready to burst, all for a mission in motion outside of Hourigan, Kluger, and Quinn Law in Kingston, on Friday.
Volunteers from the group’s non-profit, 'HKQ Kids', are packing up helmets for its annual Bike Helmet Giveaway on Saturday.
“We’ve given out over 13,000 helmets over the years, and I always laugh that we’ve seen some of these kids grow up. We’ve watched them come back every year, and it’s kind of nice to see that,” said Sue Greenfield, business manager at Hourgan, Kluger, and Quinn P.C.
The giveaway taking place at the Pittston Tomato Festival is sharing the spotlight with the tangy fruit, hoping to raise awareness about helmet safety.
“The law in Pennsylvania requires that children under 12 wear a helmet every time they’re riding a bike, and that’s not just if they’re riding a bike themselves, it’s also if they’re a passenger on the back of a bike or in a trailer,” explained attorney Nicole Santo.
Santo says kids should be getting a new helmet at least once a year.
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“You might think, ‘I already have a helmet, I don’t need another one,’ but if the helmet falls and hits the ground or if your child’s involved in an accident where the helmet’s impacted, the foam that absorbs the energy from the impact is compromised,” said Santo.
Another thing that could compromise it is the sun breaking down the outside layer.
That's why the non-profit is helping kids have fun but stay safe at no cost.
Organizers say they’re planning to give out all of these helmets wrapped up, around 1,200 of them, at Saturday’s event, but if they run out, they’ll make sure to order them for those families in need.
Greenfield says they hope this safety initiative goes beyond just bicycles.
“We’re really trying to look at pushing for the legislator to make a change for it to include scooters. They’re the new hot thing, that’s what the kids are really riding, they need a helmet on,” said Greenfield.
The HKQ Kids' Bike Helmet Giveaway will happen from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. at the Pittston Tomato Festival on Saturday.
Any child can receive a free helmet as long as they’re accompanied by an adult.
