Reading Police Officer Kaylyn Gooley giving two young girls vouchers for wearing their helmets while riding their bicycles last summer. (Photo courtesy Reading Police Department)
Reading, MA — Deputy Chief David Clark is pleased to announce that the Reading Police Department will once again be running its summer helmet voucher program, where officers who spot kids riding their bikes, scooters or rollerblades in town while wearing a helmet will reward them with coupons for free pizza and ice cream.
The program is in its fourth year and last year Reading Police officers handed out close to 200 vouchers to kids.
“This is one of our favorite programs of the year because it reinforces to kids in a positive way that wearing helmets while they’re out riding their bicycles, scooters or rollerblades around town is the right thing to do,” Deputy Chief Clark said. “This is also another great opportunity for our officers to have a positive interaction with our youth throughout the summer as we remind kids to always put safety first and they will be rewarded for making smart choices.”
The program will run throughout the summer and possibly into September, depending on the weather.
The local businesses that are participating in the program this year include:
- Café Capri
- Anthony’s Roast Beef
- Pizza World
- Columbo’s Pizza and Café
- Richardson’s Ice Cream
- Dandi Lyons Ice Cream
- Reading House of Pizza
Kids who receive a “citation” can go to one of the listed businesses and redeem their voucher for a slice of pizza or an ice cream cone.
