Seasonal & Yearly Events
We hold several seasonal and yearly events, our largest by far being our free spring break day camp. We hold several other yearly events including Back to School Events, Harvest Festivals, Community Thanksgiving dinners and Christmas dinners, and Gift Giveaways. We also provide need-based scholarships and transportation to summer camps and retreats.
Spring Break Day CAmp
Our Free Spring Break Day Camp grows every year. In 2018, we hosted 189 kids for a week, with 5 different drop-off/busing locations throughout the city. We provide snacks, meals, crafts, and endless fun. Although this event has been on pause during recent COVID restrictions, our plan is to resume and rebuild this event for 2023.
Summer Camps for Children & Teens
For several years, we’ve sent over 35 kids to summer camps each of the last few years, many with full or partial need-based scholarships. in 2019, individuals donated over $9,000 to make this event happen. Many of these children receiving scholarships were children of Congolese refugees who had never been to a camp like this. Many children had life-changing experiences!
Harvest Festivals & Carnivals
We hold harvest festivals every year in October and occasionally other festivals throughout the year. In 2022, we have hosted a pop-up festival at a laundromat on a Saturday morning in connection with a Shine-sponsored Laundry of Love event, a back to school carnival at Emerson Elementary, a couple of community events at a trailer home community in the South Valley and a local apartment complex, a Harvest Festival in cooperation with a local restaurant, and more. There are carnival games, face paintings, rock walls, jumping castles, puppet shows and so much more including tons of free candy and new for 2022…Cotton Candy, Snow Cones, and Popcorn machines. This provides a safe environment for children in otherwise impoverished neighborhoods to interact with their community.
Thanksgiving and Christmas Dinners
We have also provided Thanksgiving and Christmas dinners at each of our locations yearly. We provide a family style environment and share fully cooked hot meals with those who might not have a home to cook in, money to provide a meal, or a family to share a meal with. At Christmas time we partner with other ministries and churches to provide blankets, jackets, hats, gloves, shoes, and childrens gifts to those in need.
Will you consider partnering with us?