GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. – Two hundred children will receive a new bike helmet at no cost this month when the Grand Rapids Griffins and Safe Kids Greater Grand Rapids host a pair of events to kick off the 13th summer of the Griffins’ “Put A Lid On It!” (PALOI) bike helmet safety program.

The fun begins with the ninth annual “Lids at the Library,” a two-day event held at branches of the Grand Rapids Public Library and the Kent District Library. GRPL's West Side Branch (713 Bridge St. NW) will be the site on Tuesday, June 14 at 2 p.m., while KDL's Grandville Branch (4055 Maple St. SW) will host the event on Tuesday, June 28 at 2 p.m.

Volunteers from the Griffins, Safe Kids and several program sponsors and supporters will be on hand to properly fit these free helmets for the first 100 kids at each location. Helmets will be distributed to kids ages 1-12 (subject to availability), and a parent or legal guardian must be present for a child to receive a helmet. Griff will be on hand to entertain patrons, and a variety of information from the Griffins and Safe Kids will be available for pickup.

“Lids at the Library” is the centerpiece event of the Griffins’ award-winning PALOI program, which is presented by Helen DeVos Children’s Hospital. Since the program’s founding in 2004, the Griffins have worked with numerous local organizations – including police departments, pediatricians, schools, libraries, bike shops and sporting goods stores – to encourage helmet usage during wheeled sports, prevent head injuries, and reward kids who wear their helmets.

PALOI, which earned the Brain Injury Association of Michigan’s 2007 prevention award, targets elementary and middle school students in a seven-county region of West Michigan. Children age 17 or younger who visit griffinshockey.com/putalidonit with parental permission and sign a pledge to always wear their helmet will be rewarded with a voucher for two free tickets to a 2016-17 Griffins game and be automatically registered for a drawing to win a new bike.

Ever-present at local bike races and rides throughout the summer, the Griffins will supply themed T-shirts and posters to approximately 70 kids who will ride in the MSU Gran Fondo on Saturday, June 25. The Griffins will also provide their annual grant to Safe Kids, enabling that organization to purchase approximately 100 additional bike helmets and distribute them through its programs and events.

2016 PALOI posters will soon be displayed and distributed by hundreds of schools, libraries, medical offices and businesses throughout West Michigan, while themed T-shirts and posters will be given away to kids during other PALOI-affiliated events.

Information for parents, including tips for choosing a helmet and getting their child to wear it, is available at griffinshockey.com/putalidonit. For more information about the program, call (616) 774-4585 ext. 3046.

The “Put A Lid On It!” program is supported by Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan, Centennial Securities, Huntington, Macatawa Bank, Safe Kids Greater Grand Rapids, and Tom+Chee.

* Helmet distribution event
All events and times subject to change