Ollie Otter and TCAT Elizabethton working together to promote safety
Published 10:33 am Friday, August 16, 2019
- Star Photo/ Kevin Green Pictured (left to right) are Elizabethton TCAT's Cari Arzola, student volunteer, Patricia Henderson, local Ollie advisor, Ollie Otter (portrayed by student voluteer Louis Fregosa), and Haley Sparks, student volunteer.
Elizabethton’s Tennessee College of Applied Technology (TCAT) will again be aiding Ollie Otter this school year in his mission of saving the lives of children by fostering an increased awareness of the dangers that are on the road and why kids must be in booster seats and seat belts depending on their height.
According to Ollie’s website, “the Ollie Otter Seat Belt and Booster Seat Safety Program was developed by the Tennessee Road Builders Association (TBRA) and Tennessee Tech University as a solution to a serious problem: lack of seat belt and booster seat education to our youth at a critical age when good safety habits are formed.”
In a statement released by the TBRA, the Ollie Otter campaign was “spurred on by the loss of three family members in a year by the wife” of the president of the organization.
TCAT’s Elizabethton students last year assisted Ollie Otter with his mission by giving over 20 presentations at elementary schools throughout the northeast region.
For that work both the students and local Ollie advisor Patricia Henderson were recognized during a TBRA meeting earlier this year.
This year Ollie is seeking to reach out to give high fives to 1 million kids with help of the state’s 27 TCAT facilities and the inclusion of Tennessee State Troopers.
Henderson says it is a campaign to save lives.
“The good thing about the Ollie Otter program is that it is making a difference in the lives of our children,” Henderson said. “I think it is educating them, and some of them going back to educate their parents about seat belt safety, booster seat safety and construction zone safety. It is making a difference across the state of Tennessee what Ollie is doing.”
Persons wanting to donate to the program can do so online at givingmatters.com or by mailing a check to Ollie Otter Child Safety Fund, c/o TN Road Builders Association, 213 Fifth Avenue North, Nashville, TN 37219.
Henderson said that they are always looking for volunteers to help spread the word and promote the campaign, “Under 4’ 9” – Booster Time!” Anyone wanting to volunteer can call TCAT Elizabethton at 423-543-0070 and speak with Henderson.
