(Madera, Calif.) – Following an outpouring of community support for Kids Day in response to the one-time cancellation of this Valley tradition, Valley Children’s is inviting Kids Day volunteers and supporters to consider donating via text or online during a special “Kids Day: Digital Edition” campaign tomorrow – Tuesday, March 10.
“Traditions are important in this Valley and it is clear, from the overwhelming support and encouragement we have received from across our communities, that our Kids Day tradition is important to the children we care for and to the many who give to Valley Children’s every year on this special day,” says Valley Children’s President and CEO Todd Suntrapak. “Kids Day is built on the generosity of our sponsors, our volunteers and every individual who buys a special edition Fresno Bee for one dollar, five dollars or a handful of change. This year’s Kids Day may take the volunteers off of street corners but it will still give everyone a chance to make a difference in the life of a child and, for that, we are grateful.”
To contribute, text GEORGE to 20222 to make an automatic $10 donation or visit valleychildrens.org/kidsday and choose any amount to give, starting at $1.
Last week, Valley Children’s announced a new visitor policy and other operational changes in an effort to keep patients, families and healthcare providers as safe as possible from the spread of respiratory viruses, including COVID-19 (novel coronavirus). In addition to the new visitor policy, other mitigation strategies include restrictions on corporate travel, reduction of internal meetings and reevaluation of all Valley Children’s sponsored events that draw large crowds.
After careful consideration and out of an abundance of caution, Valley Children’s announced the cancellation of Kids Day. The move was made to protect the health and safety of the more than 8,000 volunteers who signed up to participate and the tens of thousands of generous Valley residents who buy the special edition Fresno Bee sold on street corners from one end of the Valley to the other.
While volunteers and community members were supportive and understanding of Valley Children’s decision - many commenting that doing the right thing for kids was one of Valley Children’s hallmarks - there were hundreds of inquiries about how to still celebrate Kids Day while supporting the safety of our kids, volunteers, staff and community members. There were also many suggestions of digital alternatives.
”Thank you to all who have reached out to Valley Children’s to support our work in caring for the kids of this Valley. We couldn’t do it without you and are excited about this digital edition of a beloved tradition,” continued Suntrapak. “We look forward to seeing thousands of volunteers on intersections throughout our communities on Kids Day next year.”
Other upcoming Valley Children’s-sponsored events that attract large crowds of patients, families and community members will be rescheduled when COVID-19 (novel coronavirus) is better understood and better controlled – and when better data is available on its impact.
As of today, there are no confirmed cases of COVID-19 within the Valley Children’s Healthcare network. While news of this particular coronavirus strain can be worrisome, Valley Children’s physicians and staff urge families to protect themselves from something that we are currently seeing in our emergency department and our primary care practices – cases of influenza (flu) and respiratory syncytial virus (RSV). We are in the heart of flu/RSV season and urge you to follow everyday preventative actions to help prevent the spread of respiratory viruses:
- Wash your hands often with soap and water for at least 20 seconds. If soap and water are not available, use an alcohol-based hand sanitizer.
- Avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth with unwashed hands.
- Avoid close contact with people who are sick.
- Stay home when you are sick.
- Cover your cough or sneeze with a tissue, then throw the tissue in the trash.
- Clean and disinfect frequently touched objects and surfaces.
If you have any questions or concerns about your child’s health, please call your primary care physician. If you have a medical emergency, please call 911 or visit your closest emergency department.
Kids Day is a partnership between Valley Children’s, ABC30 and the Fresno Bee. Read Kids Day stories on www.fresnobee.com and watch special Kids Day segments on ABC30 Action News throughout the day Tuesday or on www.abc30.com or the ABC30 app.