First National Children’s Day celebration draws many families in Friendship
FRIENDSHIP — Some 200 children and adults descended on the front lawn of The Mission House Family Center in Friendship Saturday afternoon, June 7, for the first area National Children’s Day Celebration.
A variety of sunny day activities contrasted with prior rainy weather for the event, hosted by the What God is Doing in Friendship ny alliance of churches participants.
Activities included an alliance bounce house, free children’s books, popcorn and lemonade were provided by the Friendship Free Library; 20 bags of fruits and vegetables given away by Fidelis Care; and music by a Houghton University graduate student providing free summer piano lessons through an alliance pilot project.
A VeggieTales movie in the Chapel of the former St. Andrew’s Episcopal Church, offices and rectory complex on East Main Street, followed by hot dogs, chips and beverages, the area’s first free seeds and plants exchange, children’s games and more had been scheduled.
Animals from Wildfire Ranch of Friendship, fruit cups from the Mission Agape food pantry at the Church of God in Christ and information on Gil’s Hills free July camps at Wellsville added to the activities.
The alliance provided details on additional currently scheduled summer events, including the Family Life Network (FLN) Youth Theatre in July, which will conclude with a free public performance at Friendship Central School, a joint rotating Vacation Bible School in various parts of Friendship the first full week in August, and the fourth annual free Community Picnic on Sunday afternoon, August 24, at Island Park.
A new brochure also debuted, providing locations and times at which Friendship churches are helping to collect plastic films for recycling, assisting a Friendship Free Library initiative in which the facility can receive a free park-style bench with 1,000 pounds of collections.
The alliance’s new weekly support groups for those seeking new or better employment and identifying multiple ways to save money on gas, groceries and other household items and services, also were highlighted.
Updates on these activities and others under consideration will be available by joining or following the alliance’s group Facebook page at https://tinyurl.com/God-in-Friendship-FB, or at AlleganyHopeWNY@outlook.com or (585) 664-9989.
