Pre-K Students Take 'Hop On, Hop Off' Community Helpers Tour

MOUNT VERNON, NY — Mount Vernon's next generation of helpers took a whirlwind tour of the city to meet the local heroes who are serving the community today.

The "hop on, hop off" bus tour visited the fire and police departments, a grocery store, the library, the post office, the Board of Education office and City Hall.

"This tour gave our students the opportunity to see all the amazing places in Mount Vernon," Gayle White-Wallace, Director of Pre-K, Gifted & Talented and Special Projects, explained. "It is important that our children know the place they call home."

Mount Vernon's youngest students had a firsthand chance to see the helpers in the neighborhood hard at work.

"A lot of what we do is when someone calls for help, we get into the police car and drive to where they are so we can help them," Mount Vernon Police Department Lt. Gregory Addison told the inquisitive youngsters.

Lt. Addison made sure students knew when it is appropriate to call 911 and even showed them the room where calls are taken.

The fire department also made sure students knew what number to call in an emergency and not to hide from the firefighters when they come to help.

Another big stop on the tour was Mount Vernon City Hall where students met Mayor Shawyn Patterson-Howard herself.

"As Mayor, I have to lead the city," Patterson-Howard told the kids. "We make sure the community is safe and clean and that we have good programs for our young people."

Organizers said each stop was intended to be a reminder to students that there are people who work to help others in the community and each role is crucial to building the Mount Vernon community up and keeping it safe.