Making a child smile is an effort that everyone can embrace.

This week, a coalition of community groups is reaching out to children to highlight the Week of the Child.

They are using &8220;Make a Child Smile&8221; as the theme.

Activities are planned in the various wards throughout the Selma and Dallas County area.

These activities &045; including movie nights &045; are meant to give the children something to do, but they are meant to do more than that.

Spending time with the children gives adults the opportunity to identify the needs of area children.

Those who work with children just want to help them reach their full potential in life.

With this week set aside, area groups and organizations have an opportunity to be a part of that.

Activities are planed for Oct. 22 through Nov. 1, the night of the scheduled banquet at the Slavery & Civil War Museum on Water Avenue.

In the Selmont community there is a parent and student meeting Oct. 24 at the Storm Shelter on the playground in Selmont at 5 p.m. Movie Night is Oct. 25 for the Selmont community, with pickups from the Storm Shelter at 4:30 p.m. for youths without a ride, organizers said.

Organizers say they are attempting to keep students from dropping out of school, keep guns out of their hands and give them alternative activities.

Those are huge goals and will take a cooperative spirit to accomplish.

This effort should gain support from the entire community. After all, who doesn’t want to &8220;Make a Child Smile?&8221;