A special Missouri child identification program called MOCHIP comes to Saint Joseph Saturday. Organizer Zola Richey says the number of children kidnapped in the United States in just the last two years is frightening: more than 96,000 one to five year olds, 113,000 six to eleven year olds, more than 2,400 girls age 14 to 19 sold into sexual slavery, along with 600 boys in the same age group.

The MOCHIP program gathers digital photographs, fingerprints, child information, and emergency contacts on a computer disc that is given to each parent or guardian. The program also takes a dental bite impression, collects a saliva DNA sample, and creates two laminated ID cards. The program is offered free of charge by the Masonic Children’s Foundation. It’ll be at the Green Valley Baptist Church at 3110 Cook Road Saturday from 10:30 am to 2:30 pm. For more information click here.