When Kathi and Brad Frieberg moved to Rogers from Little Rock in 2016, they soon found their perfect home in Pinnacle Country Club. “We felt this was the place we were supposed to be and have loved every minute,” Kathi says. Despite a recent full home remodel that filled their street with work trucks, their neighbors remained welcoming and kind.

Now, the Friebergs are giving back in a big way. Kathi and her two daughters—Diana Plattner and Meredith Henson—have launched Safety Town NWA, a nonprofit dedicated to teaching young children life-saving safety skills through fun, hands-on experiences.

Safety Town is a nationally recognized program with over 3,600 chapters across the country. It uses music, crafts, movies, games, guest speakers, and a child-sized town to teach important safety lessons to children entering or exiting kindergarten.

Kathi explains, “The week makes learning safety fun, and the music helps the kids remember the lessons. We bring in guest experts like the Fayetteville Police and Fire Departments, EMS, Goldfish Swim School, Big Paws of the Ozarks, and Operation Lifesaver’s Ron Hale to make the learning real and engaging.”

Kathi, who serves as president, isn’t new to the program—she and her daughters all participated in Central Arkansas Safety Town in Little Rock, founded by Wendy Saer. “Diana and Meredith brought up the idea of bringing it here after they started having children,” Kathi says. “They couldn’t believe it didn’t already exist in NWA, and of course, they knew they could talk me into it!”

Diana now handles fundraising and outreach, while Meredith leads design and social media efforts. Kathi even personally built the miniature buildings for the town setup. Brad, while not involved in day-to-day operations, helps behind the scenes with finances.

While the heart behind Safety Town has been strong, the journey hasn’t been without challenges. “The geography here is different than Little Rock,” Kathi explains. “There are multiple school districts and many private schools, and since we moved here after our daughters were grown, we haven’t had many school contacts.”

Even so, word is spreading quickly. “It’s been so rewarding to meet people who went to Safety Town as kids—they light up when they hear about it and always want to help.”

The long-term vision is to establish a permanent Safety Town facility in Northwest Arkansas, where families and schools can bring children year-round to learn and play safely.

As Safety Town NWA gears up for its first official camp this summer, the organization is seeking volunteers, teen assistants (great for service hours), and local teachers who want to make a difference.

Whether you’re a parent, educator, or business owner who wants to support the cause, there are plenty of ways to join in.