Wendy Saer pictured with five of her 10 grandkids: Andrew, 9; Anne Louise, 2; Audrey, 6; Henry, 6; and George, 6.

Every once in a while you meet someone with hutzpah, vim, vigor and that X factor quality few people truly possess. It’s an authentic humility driven by love, passion for life and a servant’s heart. There’s just something about them that makes you want to be on their team. Wendy Saer is one of those people.

I met Wendy for the first time one muggy summer morning at her home to conduct her feature interview. As soon as she opened the door, I sensed she was a special lady. She just exudes genuine hospitality and care for others.

Wendy has been the “Mayor” of Safety Town since she started the central Arkansas program in 1984. The annual summer camp for kiddos going into kindergarten is wildly popular and consistently has a waiting list.

Through the years she has chaired numerous events including Race for the Cure, Mount Saint Mary’s Mercy & Me, and Riverfest. She is the only person to have chaired Riverfest twice in the festival’s history. She was also recently named the Junior League of Little Rock’s Sustainer of the Year. Her robust resume of accomplishments is only dwarfed by her deep love for her family.

The More the Merrier

Wendy and her husband Ted were high school sweethearts growing up in New Orleans and are both from big Catholic families. She describes her Sunday nights during her childhood as a house full of her relatives “eating roast, rice and gravy and we HAD to burn the rolls!”

The Saers have six children and 10 grandchildren who fondly call her “Mimi.” Wendy says, “Family gatherings have lots of people, lots of food and are very laid back. There’s constant talking, laughing and I can’t get people out of the kitchen. At the table, you try to have a conversation and also listen to the one next to you so you don’t miss anything!”

Wendy, an organizer at heart says with a wide and warm smile. “Holidays are huge for us. We eat and do crafts. I set up activity tables and everybody’s good to go.”

Wendy’s skill for corralling people in meaningful ways inspired her for what she has loved doing for 30 years. “During Ted’s residency we lived in Ann Arbor, Michigan. Our daughter Ashley was starting kindergarten and schools up there registered all children for Safety Town. When we moved to Little Rock, I wanted to start it here,” she explains. “It’s amazing to take these 5-year-olds and open that black box for them and teach them how to respond to potentially scary situations…how to respond and what to do. They soak it all up.”

“All six of our children say they have lived Safety Town. All of the kids had jobs to do with it,” she shares. “One time after our son Baldwin had a bike wreck he said, ‘I need to get up and show the children what it looks like when you don’t check your bike,’” she reminisces. “And eight of our 10 grandchildren have been through Safety Town.”

Safety Town has continually grown over the years. It now has 200 participants and encompasses 10 classes, the gymnasium, and the common area at Episcopal Collegiate School. Wendy is continually looking to keep materials up to date and relevant to meet modern safety needs.

“My favorite part is seeing the children on the first day and then at the end of the five days. I spend time with all of them every day and watch them suddenly get it. They’re not afraid. They’re just matter of fact about keeping their safety rules,” she says.

She’s not slowing down anytime soon. Wendy plans to continue and hopefully expand her work with the children of central Arkansas through Safety Town. She says, “I have an idea to have a permanent Safety Town in Little Rock. It needs to be somewhere accessible with part of it covered, so even on a rainy day you’d have something to do with your children. You’d be able to do different things with different aged children, older children and even elderly safety!”

Wendy Saer is definitely one “Mimi” on the move!

I really like motivating people! My dad always said to begin with the end in mind and make sure people know you care. – “Mayor” Saer’s Mantra

Safety Town Stats

  1. The program was started over 50 years ago and exists in states all over the U.S.
  2. It is geared toward children entering kindergarten.
  3. Daily safety tip topics include: pedestrian, car passenger, bicycle, school bus, water, strangers, guns, fire, home safety, railroad, and calling 911.
  4. Each theme is taught through songs, books, movies, crafts and role playing.
  5. Campers receive daily take home summaries of lessons to share with parents. They also receive Safety Town mementos including a t-shirt, emergency ID packet, bike helmet, music CD with 22 Safety Town songs written and produced by Brian Kinder.
  6. Every child is encouraged to learn their name, address and phone #.
  7. Kids take turns being pedestrians and motorists in a child size town, meet real firefighters, police officers, and more.

Go to CentralArkSafetyTown.com for more information.