‘Tray Liners Talk’ safety program launches at Punta Gorda school

Published:

PUNTA GORDA, Fla.- One Southwest Florida community is thinking outside of the box to educate kids, by having elementary school students learn safety tips right from their cafeteria tray.

The program, called Tray Liners Talk, launched Monday at Sallie Jones Elementary School.

“Right now, I’m focusing on bicycle safety and pedestrian safety, walking from school, driving bike from school, back and forth,” said Officer Joe Angelini.

A detective with the Punta Gorda Police Department (PGPD) came up with the idea to educate kids about bike safety.

“One of the ways to reach them, is in the lunch room. It’s somewhere that they all have to go every day, we won’t interrupt their school day and it’s information we want to get out,” said Punta Gorda Police spokesperson Katie Heck.

Team Punta Gorda sponsored the printing, then PGPD placed more than 1,000 liners on lunch trays.

“Why not use our Chance Cafe to re-enforce what he’s teaching in the classroom, and have it right in lunch conversation,” said Principal Jenni Hoke.

After seeing the tray liners, the students did just what the police department hoped, they asked questions.

“School is going to be out here shortly and I’m trying to make sure our kids are safe and by teaching lessons of bike safety and pedestrian safety, it’s a good thing,” said Angelini.

Punta Gorda Police say the education movement doesn’t stop there.

“We have other liners planned for the older students such as signing up for D-FI which is a drug-free Charlotte County program and then also talking to high schoolers about the dangers of smoking and new vaping cigarettes,” said Heck.

Copyright ©2024 Fort Myers Broadcasting. All rights reserved.

This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed without prior written consent.