APPLETON (NBC26) -- — Polly Olson, the newly-appointed Assistant Chief of the Appleton Police Department, read 'Camp K-9' during the first in-person Kiwanis N’ Cops N’ Kids storytime at the Long Cheng Market.
“I think it’s really important for kids to know that we’re the helpers in the community," she said. "And that by engaging them in activities outside of traditional law-enforcement, they can see us as humans, can see us as, in our case, moms, and hopefully feel like we’re approachable, and that they can always come to ask for help. That’s really what our primary role is in their life.“
Maiyoua Thao, District 7 Alderperson for the City of Appleton and owner of Long Cheng Market, read 'Astrid and Apollo,' a story about a brother and sister at a Hmong New Year celebration, in honor of Asian American Heritage Month.
“We are the community now," she said. "And we’re just like everyone else. We bring our culture, our families. Many of our children are born here, they go to school here, they went to college, and they’re coming back to bring their talent here to the city of Appleton. We’re happy to be here. We’re going to work hard to make the city thrive with everyone else.“
Kiwanis N' Cops N' Kids isn't just about reading to kids; Kiwanis and the Police Department put together new little libraries outside the Thompson center, the Community Early Learning Center and inside the Long Cheng Market.
The reading idea came to life last September, beginning with virtual storytimes.
“We were at a time among COVID where it was hard for us to connect with our community, and find events that were safe and families to feel safe," said Meghan Cash, Public Information Officer for the Appleton Police Department.
Jean Long Manteufel, District Governor of Kiwanis for Wisconsin and Upper Michigan, created the service project, and hopes to see Cops N' Kids spread all over the region.
Jean long manteufel — wisconsin and upper michigan kiwanis district governor
“It’s nice to see role models in many walks of life to help the kids trust and see and picture themselves in the future, they can do those things too," she said. “the kids have been isolated themselves, their reading has been challenged because they’ve been trying to do it from home. There has been a lot of community challenges in so many ways. We’re looking for ways to just pull it all together and do something to help create more community.“
The next storytime will be on June 2nd at the Thompson Center. Kiwanis N' Cops N' Kids will create Facebook events for each reading with more information.
