For the second year, the Osrion Masonic Lodge No. 8 is presenting the Georgia Child Identification Program (GACHIP), which is one of the most comprehensive child recovery, identification and abduction awareness programs ever to be offered to parents in the State of Georgia.

This year’s GACHIP program will be held Saturday, April 24, from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Shrine Club in Bainbridge, located at 2722 Thomasville Road.

Last year, 152 children were given kits.

Since 2004, Freemasons from various state jurisdictions in the United States and in several Canadian provinces have sponsored Masonic CHIP events.

At a CHIP event, Freemasons set up the equipment and enlist the aid of local volunteers, as necessary, to generate completed child identification kits.

The kits full-color digital photographs showing various poses of the child, a complete set of digital fingerprints, information about the child such as distinguishing features and contact information, and a laminated ID card.

Each child progresses through several stations taking about 10 to 15 minutes for the entire process.

The recorded information is presented to the child’s parent or guardian to take home for safekeeping.

All information is confidential and GACHIP retains nothing but the permission form when the kit is completed and given to the parents.

The mission of the GACHIP program is to raise public awareness concerning the rise of abduction or exploitation that our children now face in today’s society. This mission is accomplished by conducting GACHIP events throughout our state.