Onslow County Sheriff’s Office, Jacksonville Police Department, Team Up to Assemble Law Enforcement/First Responder Trauma Kits4Kids

First responders from the Jacksonville Police Department and Onslow County Sheriff’s Office are joining forces to receive and assemble First Responder Kits4Kids – a compassion-driven national initiative created to comfort children facing traumatic emergency situations. 

The event will take place on June 11, 10:00 am at Jacksonville Department of Public Safety, 200 Marine Blvd, Jacksonville, NC 28540. The First Responder Kits4Kids program was founded by James Fisher-Davis (a native of eastern NC) and Kevin Gatlin, two devoted fathers from Charlotte, NC, who recognized the need for a way to help first responders alleviate children's anxiety during tough times. Aware that first responders frequently encounter distressed children, Gatlin and Fisher-Davis developed these Kits4Kids to offer a straightforward yet impactful method for providing comfort and security during first responder service calls. 

Each First Responder Kit4Kids contains carefully curated items to engage and comfort children during emergencies. The kit includes a Playtime Disposable Play Pad featuring 25 interactive activities, crayons, a Rubik’s Cube for cognitive stimulation, a miniature emergency vehicle, Play-Doh, a puzzle game, noise-canceling earplugs, a colorful stress ball, hand wipes, and a handwritten note from first responders providing encouragement.

"As President of the National Organization of Black Law Enforcement Executives, I am proud to support the Kits 4 Kids initiative. These kits have the potential to lessen children's traumatic experiences during encounters with law enforcement, redirecting the focus of the moment toward a positive exchange. We at NOBLE are committed to working with organizations that better our communities, and we believe these kits will make a meaningful difference in the lives of the children we serve." - Rodney Bryant, NOBLE Past President

First Responder Kits4Kids has been featured on ABC, NBC, Spectrum, and CBS News. Trauma Kits4Kids is supported by the North Carolina Association of Chiefs of Police (NCACP) and also endorsed by the National Organization of Black Law Enforcement Executives (NOBLE), highlighting its nationwide impact and commitment to ensuring that first responders have access to these vital resources. To learn more, visit https://firstresponderkits4kids.org and follow First Responder Kits4Kids on Facebook, LinkedIn, and YouTube.