On Saturday, October 17th, the Wake Forest NC Stake of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints hosted a Family Safety and Preparedness Expo at its church building located at 1524 Jenkins Rd in Wake Forest, NC. The Expo featured 18 main exhibits from community partner organizations and neighbors that provided free, valuable safety and preparedness information.
Several of the exhibits included CPR training (Wake Forest Fire Department and Youngsville CERT), electrical safety (Wake Electric), natural gas safety (Enbridge Gas), amateur HAM radio operation, and food preservation techniques. Additionally, 200 first aid kits and 200 gun safety locks were distributed free of charge to attendees.
In addition to the main exhibits, over 20 different classes were offered, including “Gun Safety in the Home,” “Building a First Aid Kit,” and “Ministering in Times of Crisis.” Specialized sessions were also available for younger audiences, such as “Pillowcase Bug-out Bags for Kids” and “Budgeting for Teens and Young Adults.”
More than 200 community members attended and participated throughout the day. The Wake Forest Stake was grateful for the opportunity to host an event that helps neighbors find practical resources to stay safe and prepared in their everyday lives.
The interactive booths were a major highlight for visitors and organizers alike. Steve Hanna, director of the Family Safety and Preparedness Expo, shared that one of his favorite displays was hosted by Wake Electric. On the table was a replica of a small town featuring a car trapped beneath a "downed" power line. When a tiny girl figurine attempted to remove the wire to help the occupants, she received a simulated shock—driving home the crucial lesson to never touch a downed line and to always call for help instead.
"I'm grateful for the well-prepared and highly qualified staff that presented, shared, and made this day possible," said Hanna. "This is the first year we've offered this Expo and it was great to see the community response. There were so many great things to learn."
— Seth Champion, Assistant Stake Communication Director
