Sponsor your own lead safety event or project

Your civic, social, faith, or community organization can host a lead safety awareness event to underscore the need for citizen action. Here are some examples:

• Mar 23, 2026 ABC 57 News. Portage Township sponsors 'Mulch Madness' in South Bend. "The University of Notre Dame Student Government's Back the Bend 2026 service initiative continues Saturday with "Mulch Madness", a volunteer event aimed at preventing lead poisoning in South Bend. From 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, volunteers will spread mulch at homes throughout the Near Northwest Neighborhood of South Bend. Volunteers will also receive food provided by Portage Township. According to Portage Township Trustee Jason Critchlow, mulching around older homes works to reduce lead exposure from lead-based paint used on the homes."

• Sponsor a students essay contest on identifying and overcoming lead hazards. Youth science projects to identify lead in homes and communities.

• Test bare soil where children play. 

  • • Duke student finds lead in soil at 3 Durham parks, suspects contamination at 2 others

    • Fruitvale students tested their soil and found lead contamination. Now they’re campaigning to fix it

• Hold a Community Health Fair for residents and members...and include lead safety information.

• Easter Bunny Hop on Fleet Avenue brings children out for Easter Basket candy...and adults for lead safe information.

Tell your family's story

Some folks won't understand lead hazards  until they hear it with their hearts. Here's some examples

Jun 26, 2023. tmj4.com. Family shares story of lead poisoning and work to educate others. MILWAUKEE — There's a children's book from Milwaukee that tells the story of a little boy who got sick from exposure to lead. 'The lead monster crept into the house through the lead paint and the window sills," said Aidan Branch, reading from the book. He knows the story well. It's personal — both he and his mother, Deanna Branch, have been hospitalized for lead poisoning." Watch a video here.