Residents of the Williston community will come together to start a conversation about gun safety.
An "America's Largest Playdate" event will be held at the Williston Town Park to recognize National ASK Day from 2 to 6 p.m. Sunday.
The acronym ASK stands for "asking saves kids," and the campaign "promotes a simple idea with the potential to help keep kids safe. It encourages parents to ask if there is an unlocked gun in the homes where their children play," according to the ASK website.
"This is a good question - one that we don't even think about or try to avoid," said Loraine Davenport, president of the Barnwell County chapter of the Brady Campaign to Prevent Gun Violence.
There also will be playdates held in Boston, Brooklyn, Los Angeles and Washington, D.C.
The Williston Town Park has entrances on Church Street (U.S. Highway 78), Warren Street and Barnwell Road.
The free event will include free food, face painting and various games.
Musical entertainment also will be provided by gospel group Gr8fl.
There will be pediatric doctors, law enforcement officers and parents discussing how to start the conversation about gun safety easier, Davenport said.
Davenport said she was contacted by Shihka Hamilton, vice president of the California Chapters of the Brady Campaign, and Kim Russell, regional organizing manager at Brady Campaign and the Center to Prevent Gun Violence, about holding a "playdate," and she decided to give it a try.
The Brady Campaign, once named Handgun Control Inc., is a campaign that honors the lives and advocacy of gun control by Jim and Sarah Brady. Jim, a press secretary for President Ronald Reagan, was shot and seriously wounded during a failed attempt by someone to assassinate the president.
For more information about ASK Day or how to host your own playdate event, visit askingsaveskids.org or email askday@bradymail.org.
For more information about the Brady Campaign, visit bradycampaign.org.
Charnita Mack is an intern with the Aiken Standard. She is a resident of Williston, and has lived there all her life.