AUBURN – Police will be photographing children and taking DNA samples Friday as part of a national missing children awareness program.

Auburn police are taking part in the national campaign to teach child safety at home and on the Internet. It’s part of a larger effort, sponsored by the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children, called the “Take 25 Campaign.” It encourage parents and teachers to take 25 minutes out of their day to talk to children about safety.

Part of the effort kicks off from 2 to 6 p.m. Friday at the Auburn police station. Police will be taking digital photographs of children as well as DNA samples – a cotton swab rubbed against the inside of a child’s cheek – for parents. It will all be given to parents for them to take home for safekeeping. Police don’t keep any of the information.

“It’s a good thing for people going away on vacation,” said Lt. Scott Watkins. “Kids can wander away, even if they are at Disneyland, and the only photo you might have is what’s in your wallet.”

The digital photos are kept on a floppy disk, along with a program connecting parents or police to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children. Watkins recommends parents keep everything, especially the floppy and the cotton swab, in a safe, dry place.

Watkins said police will also have popcorn, McGruff the Crime Dog and safety tips at the police station Friday. Watkins said Auburn has 1,200 of the kits available for Friday, so the event is open to children from all over the area. They plan to offer the ID kits at programs throughout the summer, he said.