Stand for Children Day held at Bowling Green Ball Park

"You think about the kids," said Community Education Volunteer and Outreach Coordinator Joshua Smith. "That’s what we’re here about, and they’re the next generation."

Stand for Children Day started back in 1979.

"Obviously if we’re going over 21 years, we must be doing something right," said Smith.

The yearly outing originated with the goal of "standing up" for children’s issues, as well as informing parents and caregivers of services for their children in this community.

"We just want to make the community aware of what’s available–the resources," Smith said. "Really just giving back to the children in the area today."

The annual event held at the home of the Hot Rods, Bowling Green Ball Park, has grown to include over sixty vendors with activities and information for kids from cities all over the southcentral Kentucky community. 

"You can see the kids having fun, enjoying themselves. That’s what it’s all about," said Smith. "We put so much heart into it. We want it to go over well. Whenever you have that at the end that they did have a good time, that’s the pay off."

While Stand for Children Day aims to educate parents and adults in the community, it’s overall purpose is to let kids know that their community cares about their needs, and wants to set them up for success in the years to come.

"We want them to at least know that there is a community, there are resources, there are organizations, there are businesses and agencies that care about them and their future," Smith said. "They’re going to be our leaders tomorrow. We want to take care of them now so that they can become those people that we need 10, 15, 20 years down the road."

Kids who attended in the past have now returned to volunteer at the event, and Smith says he’s hoping to see that trend continue in the future.

"I can’t wait to see what 25, or even 22 next year, what it really has in store for the community and for the children," he said.