The City of Menlo Park Safe Routes to School program is planning two helmet giveaways this fall in the Belle Haven neighborhood.

The Safe Routes to School program was allocated a generous donation of 100 bike helmets from the California Department of Public Health Kids’ Plates program. Free helmets will be distributed during the Walk to School week in October and on Ruby Bridges Walk to School Day in November. More details to come! 

Last year October 21, 2020, the first helmet giveaway took place in the Belle Haven neighborhood. Thanks to a generous donation from Lucile Packard Children’s Hospital, we distributed 50 helmets to children 5–17 years old. The event was held in front of Belle Haven School, which allowed parents and children to get free helmets and personalized helmet fittings. When you roll, always wear your helmet!

On August 25, 2021, at the San Mateo County Safe Routes to School Summit, helmet use advocate Paige Hargis shared the story of her son Alex who was severely injured while skateboarding without a helmet. She founded My Grey Matterz, which collaborates with the skateboard industry with the goal of creating a “New Norm” to include the helmet in the “skateboarding kit.” Watch Alex’s helmet safety video.