Voorhees Township is joining thousands of municipalities across the country recognizing the first Friday in June as National Gun Violence Awareness Day, a day to honor and remember all the victims and survivors of gun violence and to recognize more must be done to reduce gun violence.
People across the country will be wearing orange on Friday, June 1, 2018 which marks the fourth National Gun Violence Awareness Day.

Every day, 96 Americans are killed by gun violence with more than 30,000 firearm fatalities each year and more than 80,000 nonfatal injuries requiring emergency medical care or hospitalization. After car accidents, gun violence is the second leading cause of death for people under the age of 20. About two kids under the age of 14 are killed each week in accidental shootings.

Gun Violence Awareness Day is not an anti-gun or pro-gun movement. In our country, we have the right to bear arms, but we also have the responsibility to bear arms safely. Support for the Second Amendment rights of law-abiding citizens goes hand-in-hand with keeping guns away from dangerous people. This day is about recognizing that there is a gun violence problem in our country and more can be done to save lives from gun violence.
The idea of National Gun Violence Awareness Day was inspired following the death of Hadiya Pendleton, a teenager who was shot and killed on January 29, 2013 in Chicago just one week after she performed with her high school marching band at President Barack Obama’s second inauguration. Her friends and classmates chose to commemorate her life by wearing orange because hunters wear orange in the woods to protect themselves and others from gunfire and orange is the color that symbolizes the value of human life.

Voorhees Township emergency responders will be wearing orange ribbons on Friday, June 1 to show support in the effort to reduce gun violence and encourage responsible gun ownership.

**The Voorhees Swim Club and Sustainable Voorhees are hosting a free community paper shredding event on Sat., May 12, from 9 a.m. until noon at the Voorhees Swim Club, 81Forrest Hill Drive. Participation is limited to residents of Voorhees and surrounding communities, no businesses. The event will end sooner than advertised if the shredding truck reaches capacity. For more information visit, www.tabshred.com.

** The Annual Animal Welfare Association Paws & Feet 5K Race & Doggie Fun Day is May 19 from 9am to noon at the Cooper River Park, Pennsauken. This 3-mile run/walk and one-mile walk is a great way for animal lovers to support AWA’s mission of helping pets and people. The day is full of great activities, including pet contests, an agility course, pet demonstrations and entertainment. All money raised goes toward the adoption center and the care of homeless animals. For more information, call 856-424-2288 extension113 or visit www.events@awanj.org.

**The Voorhees Schools Color Fun Run will be held on Fri., May 20, at Connolly Park. Registration begins at 6 p.m. and the run begins at 6:30 p.m. Money raised from the event will help support technology and enhancements at VMS, ET Hamilton, Osage, Kresson and Signal Hill Schools. There will be music by Just Call Dawn DJ and other post run fun! For more information, visit www.voorheesk12.nj.us.

**The 10th Annual Alicia Rose Victorious 5k Run/Walk will be held on Sun., May 20. Check in begins at 7:30 a.m. and the one-mile walk/kids run will start at 9 a.m. The 5K run/walk will begin at 9:30 a.m. at Virtua Hospital, 200 Bowman Dr. in Voorhees.  Cost is $30 for participants 19 and older and $15 for ages 5 to 18.  The ARVF installs Teen Lounges in hospitals throughout the world. For more information, visit www.victoriousfoundation.org.