ORANGE COUNTY, Fla.,None — A local program that supplied thousands of local families with child car seats during the past decade is ending, all because of a cut in funding.
Organizers told WFTV's Nancy Alvarez that they worry about how many children may now be at risk because many families can't afford the car seats.
Car seats aren't cheap. They can range from $100 to $500 depending on the seat, and for families on a fixed income who have two or three kids, it's a huge expense.
After a grocery run at the community food center, the Felicianos made sure their grandson is strapped into his booster seat. The family said they are struggling to make ends meet, but they won't compromise his safety.
"We have to have him safe and if we don't teach him to be responsible and use the seat, he won't do it with his children and it's a vicious cycle," Carmelo Feliciano said.
Feliciano said he doesn't know how he'll afford another car seat for a grandchild on the way, and a program that could've helped him is gone.
Judi Hill gets emotional talking about families who will be turned away and told they can no longer receive free or discounted car seats through the Florida Highway Patrol.
"It's hard ... I hate to see it," Hill said through tears.
Hill is with the Orange County Health Department, and helped coordinate the service and safety classes that were also cut.
"There were times when we didn't have enough seats to meet a class, and we had to invite them back for the next time," Hill said.
FHP lost a $400,000 grant that's paid for the program every year for the last decade. Last year, the agency and trooper Wanda Diaz handed out just more than 1,000 seats. Her focus will be now be back on the roads -- a tough move because she knows there's still a big need for the program.
"My reaction is hopefully it will be picked up somewhere else," Diaz said.
And we found out another state agency is working on a new car seat program that's expected to roll out in January.
The health department is partnering up with other agencies to continue offering car seat safety checks. See the health department's website for more information.
WFTV
