CAPE CORAL, Fla. -- More community activists are stepping up to help keep children safe while they wait for their school bus.
First, it was benches being placed at bus stops. Now, there’s something new.
With the help from Jay LaGace and James Sanner with REMAX Realty in Cape Coral, thousands of kids have LED lights that they can put on their backpacks.
By doing this, it allows cars to see kids as they walk to their bus stop early in the morning. It’s a small gesture that will help in a big way.
REMAX Realty on Del Prado Boulevard raised enough money to purchase more than 15,000 LED lights. They did this after they heard about 8-year-old Layla Aiken who was hit and killed at her bus stop last month.
They took it upon themselves to do something that would have an immediate impact.
Right now, they are handing out these lights to as many kids as they can to prevent another tragedy from happening. “Kids are the life blood of everything, life blood of the community, life blood of everyone and no one wants a kids to get hurt,” said realtor, Jay LaGace.
LaGace said they are going to continue to raise money to purchase more lights. He also said people can buy the lights on Amazon and have them shipped to their realty office at 2326 Del Prado Boulevard S.
They already handed out a bunch them to kids in the area, including Lauren Wicka’s kids. She drives her little ones to the bus stop every morning because it’s too dark outside. She said the lights can definitely help and it’s a step in the right direction. “The kids have them. They flash and there’s three different setting. I think its a great idea," said Wicka. "Unfortunately, a lot more needs to be done, sidewalks, lighting, different bus times so they are not walking in the middle of the dark.”
LaGace said they have thousands of lights left. On Thursday, they are handing them over to the Cape Coral Police Department. The lights will be given to student resource officers to be passed out to kids at school who don’t have a light on their backpack.
If you’re a parent and you know you want one of these lights for your kids, contact REMAX Realty at this number: (239) 443-8795.
