The National Center for Missing & Exploited Children® (NCMEC), in partnership with the Benton Police Department, will be observing National Missing Children’s Day this year by participating in the national Take 25 child safety campaign.  A free Take 25 event, with child identification kits and other literature, will be held on May 25th at the Boys and Girls Club (105 Cox St.) from 3:00 PM to 6:00 PM. 
 
    May 25 has been observed as National Missing Children’s Day since it was first observed in 1983.  National Missing Children’s Day serves as an annual reminder that there are thousands of children who are still missing and stresses the importance of making child protection a national priority.  

    The Take 25 campaign is a national child safety public awareness campaign that was created in 2007 by the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children. The campaign encourages parents to take 25 minutes to talk to their children about safety and ways to prevent abduction.  The campaign begins on May 1 and continues through May 25 every year in communities throughout the country.

    “We know that teaching children about safety works. Community events play an important role in helping parents understand how they can help save a child’s life,” said Ernie Allen, President and CEO of NCMEC.  “We are very grateful to our local partners who share our interest in keeping children safe. They play an important role in raising public awareness in communities throughout America.”

    Every year in America, an estimated 800,000 children are reported missing, more than 2,000 each day. Of that number, 200,000 are abducted by family members and 58,000 are abducted by non-family members, for which the primary motive is sexual. Each year, 115 children are the victims of the most serious abductions; they are taken by non-family members and either murdered, ransomed or taken with the intent to keep.

    An analysis of attempted abduction cases by NCMEC found that in 84% of the cases, the child escaped would-be abductors through their own actions.  Teaching children about safety works. It saves lives.

    The Benton Police Department is participating in this event to help educate the parents and children in our city about the real dangers of child abduction.  It is our hope that by providing this free service to our citizens we can help keep our community safe and secure for everyone.  For more information about this program please contact Lt. Kevin Russell at 501-776-5948.  www.bentonpolice.org