GRAND RAPIDS, Mich– As the Griffins continue trying to take home a Calder Cup, the team is also kicking off an annual safety initiative Monday.
The “Lids at the Library” event gives out 200 bike helmets to West Michigan children, in a partnership with Safe Kids Greater Grand Rapids.
The event will take place at branches of the Grand Rapids Public Library and the Kent District Library on two separate days. KDL’s Comstock Park branch (3943 W. River Dr. NE, Comstock Park) will be the site on Monday at 2 p.m., while GRPL’s West Leonard branch (1017 Leonard NW, Grand Rapids) will host the event on Wednesday at 3 p.m.
Volunteers from the Griffins and Safe Kids will help to fit the free helmets for the first 100 kids at each location. Children ages 1-12 can receive a helmet as long as a parent or guardian is present at the event. Griffins’ mascot, Griff will also be on hand to entertain those that come out the event.
“Lids at the Library” is the start of the 10th summer of the Grand Rapids Griffins’ award-winning “Put A Lid On It!” campaign. It is a helmet safety program, which is presented by Helen DeVos Children’s Hospital. The Griffins have worked with numerous local organizations, such as police departments, pediatricians, schools, libraries, bike shops and sporting goods stores to encourage helmet usage in order to prevent head injuries, and reward kids that wear helmets.
