Niswonger Children’s Network receives hundreds of car seats to benefit flood victims through partnership with Ollie Otter Foundation

The Ballad Health Niswonger Children's Network received 400 car seats from the Ollie Otter Child Safety Foundation to benefit families affected by the Hurricane Helene floods. 

The car seats were delivered to Niswonger Children's Hospital on Tuesday and will be available to families through the Niswonger Children's Network Children's Resource Center. The donation includes car seats of four different sizes, and the resource center will connect recipients with a certified car seat technician to install their car seat. 

"Some families in our communities suffered unimaginable loss during the devastating Hurricane Helene floods and are now trying to put their lives back together," said Chris Jett, chief executive officer of the Niswonger Children's Network. "These families are taking the first bold, brave steps toward restarting their lives, and we're so thankful that the Ollie Otter Foundation has stepped in to help us provide families with car seats to help save expenses and ensure safety for more children in our communities." 

Founded in 2006 through a partnership between the Tennessee Road Builders Association and Tennessee Tech University, the Ollie Otter Child Safety Foundation began as a way to engage and educate school children on the importance of child passenger safety at an age-appropriate level. The program includes school presentations centered around Ollie Otter, a staple mascot used to teach children the safety of using their seatbelts, booster seats and car seats.

The program began in Tennessee and is now active in all 95 counties across the state. Ollie’s presence expanded beyond the state beginning in 2010, and the program is now active in 10 states from Alaska to Florida.

“For almost 20 years, Ollie Otter has been our strongest advocate for child passenger safety, and it’s an honor to bring him to the Appalachian Highlands to lend a hand to the families affected by the Hurricane Helene floods,” said Kent D. Starwalt, executive vice president of Tennessee Road Builders Association. “Being here today is a continuation of a long-held relationship with Ballad Health and the Niswonger Children’s Network that will continue to benefit families in the region for years to come.” “Child passenger safety is always important, and we are very thankful for our friends at the Ollie Otter Foundation for helping us provide essential tools to families affected by a once-in-a-lifetime disaster,” said Tara Chadwell, assistant vice president of child health programs. “We hope that providing these car seats will help families have one less thing to worry about in the coming weeks and months ahead. With their help, we can be sure that more children are safe when they’re on the road.”

The Children’s Resource Center, an established partner of the Niswonger Children’s Network, serves as a hub for outreach, education and support for children throughout the Appalachian Highlands. The Niswonger Children’s Network has two established brick-and-mortar CRCs at both Niswonger Children’s Hospital in Johnson City and Johnston Memorial Hospital in Abingdon, Virginia. In addition to other safety programming and resources, the CRC provides regular car seat safety checkpoints throughout the year, providing families with invaluable education on the proper way to install and use a car seat. To apply for a free car seat, families should send an email to CRCinfo@balladhealth.org. They will be contacted by a Children’s Resource Center team member, who will evaluate their needs and schedule a car seat installation.

Learn more about the Niswonger Children’s Network Children’s Resource Center, including the services they provide to the community, by visiting www.balladhealth.org/niswonger-childrens-network.