In accordance with National Lead Poisoning Prevention Week, Penn Medicine's "Lead-Free Families" initiative is set to hold a free Lead-Free Kids event on Sunday, Oct. 25, from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Tiny Town, 533 Janet Ave., Lancaster.

The third annual event, previously held at the Lancaster Science Factory, promises a focus on a "variety of topics related to lead, lead poisoning prevention and children's health and safety," including family-oriented activities, free food and lead poisoning-related resources.

"The goal is just to educate the community on lead poisoning and how to prevent it," said Meredith Lasdin, supervisor of the Lead-Free Families initiative. "Our program exists to help with that and come alongside them in the journey of lead poisoning prevention."

Lancaster County is greatly susceptible to lead poisoning due to its large number of older homes. Nearly 60% of homes in the county were built before lead paint was banned, according to the Center for American Progress.

"Our housing stock is old," Lasdin said. "Houses that were built before 1978 are at risk of having lead paint because lead paint was not banned in this country until 1978. ... The age of lead paint at this point has caused it to start breaking down, and that's when it becomes a hazard."

"The health effects of lead poisoning cannot be understated," said Leaha Shermeyer, outreach coordinator of Lead-Free Families. "When a child is lead-poisoned, the effects of that poisoning are permanent on their brain."

Free ice cream will be served at the event. Multiple food trucks have also been invited to the event. As in the past, costumed characters will also be in attendance. Free admission to the event is possible due to a grant from the Women's Giving Circle.

Another feature of the day will be the opportunity for families to win giveaway drawings, which include tickets to community businesses and experiences.

"People will get tickets, and there's no purchasing needed," Shermeyer said. "(We'll have) Corn Cob Acres, Dutch Wonderland, Fox Meadows Creamery, Nothing Bundt Cakes and also some lead check swabs that are EPA certified."

Many free resources will be offered at the event, including point-of-care lead screening for children age 6 and under through Warwick Community Ambulance Association (WCAA); soil sample testing for lead through Property Lead; and tabling partners that will provide resources on other children's health and safety-related topics, including early learning, nutrition and gun safety.

Free car seat checks will also be provided by certified technicians through WCAA, a new feature of this year's event.

"Families are welcome to bring a soil sample or an item they're concerned about, because all of those free resources are going to be there," Shermeyer explained.

The Lead-Free Families initiative was launched in 2021 with a $50 million grant from Penn Medicine. It's the first program of its kind in the United States and has already checked out close to 900 homes in the county for lead.

"There is no other program that does this; this is a very unique investment that was made in Lancaster," said Shermeyer. "Lead poisoning affects families living in all different types of old housing across the county, rural and urban housing."

More information about the initiative can be obtained by emailing info@leadfreefamilies.org or by calling 717-554-5323. The program currently offers lead screening, in-home lead testing and remediation, health care and social service support, community education, outreach and public policy advocacy and education.