Safe Tables Our Priority - Dane County, WI
 Keeping Education Vital In Neighborhoods

Open Letter from Barb and Mike Kowalcyk
Co-Presidents, Dane County Chapter
 

Dear S.T.O.P. Members,

 On August 11, 2001, our beautiful 2 and 1/2 year old son, Kevin, died of Hemolytic Uremic Syndrome (HUS) as a result of an E.coli 0157:H7 infection.  At this time, we still do not know the exact source of the E.coli but suspect it was contaminated food.  Needless to say, our family is heart-broken and devastated.

 As S.T.O.P. members, we do not need to tell you about the suffering that victims of food-borne illnesses and their families go through.  Nor do we need to tell you that recently there have been several setbacks for food safety.  On March 14, 2002, three members of our family participated in the rally in Washington, DC, and attended the press conference in which Senator Harkin introduced the Meat and Poultry Pathogen Reduction and Enforcement Act of 2002 (S. 2013/H.R. 3956).  While this bill will not solve all of the problems with food safety, it is definitely a step in the right direction.  At this point, it is extremely important that the government and industry hear from us, the consumers. 

To facilitate this, our family is spearheading two campaigns.  The first campaign is a national petition drive which will show voter support for the bill.  We encourage you to download a copy of the petition and then ask family, friends, neighbors and co-workers to sign.  Along with the petition is a handout that provides a good opportunity for increasing awareness of food-borne illnesses and educating members of your community.  Our family is organizing volunteers to go door-to-door in our community as well as having booths at local festivals and concerts this summer. 

The second campaign is a national letter-writing campaign for both adults and children to explain how a food-borne illness has impacted their lives.  Adults will write their legislative representative and the children will write or draw pictures for the First Lady, Laura Bush.  S.T.O.P. has developed a handout with ideas for what issues to address in the letters.  We encourage you to write letters yourselves and ask friends and family in your community to also write letters.  In addition, our family is asking KevinÍs playmates to write letters or draw pictures. 

We are collecting these letters and petitions to present them in Washington, DC in August to commemorate the first anniversary of KevinÍs death.  As Kevin's parents, we are asking for your help in making these campaigns a successful national effort for safer food.  To join in or if you have any further questions, please e-mail us at  or call Karen at S.T.O.P., 1-800-350-STOP.

    Thank You,

    Barb & Mike Kowalcyk
    Mount Horeb, WI