National Center for Missing and Exploited Children
Check 'n Go launched our partnership with the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children in 2007. Throughout the year, Check 'n Go distributes seasonal child safety tip cards for families in our stores as well as at schools, daycare centers and other public events/venues. Additionally, we post more than 600 photos of missing children annually in Check 'n Go stores with the intention that someone will recognize the child from their photo. Our stores featured 225 missing children in 2008 that were reunited with their families.
In January 2009, we announced a goal of distributing 10,000 child photo ID kits containing safety tips from the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children (NCMEC) to families across the country. The "Safe 'n Secure Child Photo ID Kits" are an extension of our proactive, community-based campaign aimed at enhancing child safety and insuring that more families have the tools they need should their children go missing. Families across the country have the opportunity to receive free, personalized kits, along with other safety information at events in their local communities. Our goal of 10,000 Safe 'n Secure Child ID Kits with photos distributed will be achieved in only the first half of the year through more than 120 events in twenty-four states, including events at children's museums, aquariums the circus and Space Center Houston.
"One of the most important tools for law enforcement to use in the case of a missing child is an up-to-date, good quality photograph," said Nancy A. McBride, NCMEC's National Safety Director. "Child ID kits are an easy way for families to keep important tools, like the photograph of their child, at their fingertips. They can then supply law enforcement with the information and resources they need to start searching immediately. That quick response could mean more missing children come home safely."