MileOneCares to Recognize National Child Passenger Safety Week with Free Car Seat Events

MileOne Autogroup, through its philanthropic arm MileOneCares, will recognize National Child Passenger Safety Week with two events at Heritage Toyota Owings Mills on September 7 and September 21, during which new car seats will be distributed to families who need them most, continuing MileOne Autogroup’s commitment to making child passenger safety accessible to all.

Motor vehicle crashes are a leading cause of death for children in the United States but properly used car seats can reduce the risk of fatal injury by 71% for infants and 54% for toddlers, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA). Taking place each September (this year from September 21-27, 2025), Child Passenger Safety Week is an annual nationwide effort led by the NHTSA, bringing heightened awareness to how parents and caregivers can keep children safe in vehicles.

MileOne Autogroup launched its MileOneCares Car Seat Community Program in 2022 and in 2024 expanded it to offer monthly free car seat distributions in the Baltimore market and quarterly events in the Silver Spring market, each accommodating up to 250 families per event. In 2024, the organization distributed 1,500 seats for free. As of today, it has given away 1,968 seats in 2025 and is on track to surpass its 3,000-seat goal before year’s end -- a donation value of at least $300,000.

“This program is about more than just providing a car seat; it’s about protecting children, supporting parents, and ensuring families have access to resources that keep them safe,” said Amanda Kodeck, who oversees the MileOneCares program as Chief Giving Officer for MileOne Autogroup.

MileOne Autogroup’s monthly distribution event on September 7 will take place from 12–2 p.m. and will mark the giveaway of MileOne’s 2,000th car seat of 2025, bringing the organization closer to its goal of distributing 3,000 seats this year. During the event, expecting parents and those with children up to six months old will receive convertible seats suitable for children from 5 to 65 pounds. Two certified child passenger safety technicians volunteering on behalf of Maryland Kids in Safety Seats (KISS) will be on site to answer questions about proper installation and use.

A second event, held the first day of National Child Passenger Safey Week on September 21 from 10 a.m.–1 p.m., will include both distribution and installation support from KISS and will include car seats for children of any age who have outgrown their current seat, have a seat that’s expired, or have been in a crash.

“Each month, our Baltimore events fill to capacity at 250 families, which speaks to how great the need is,” Kodeck added. “We’re proud to make these events accessible, with Spanish-speaking translators on site and families traveling from across the state to participate — and we’re grateful to our partners at Kids in Safety Seats for helping ensure families leave with the knowledge and confidence to keep their children safe.”

MileOne Autogroup shared that families from around the state travel to its distribution events.

For more information about the MileOneCares Car Seat Community Program and to register for the September events or future events, families can visit https://www.mileonecares.com/car-seat-community-program.htm.