There is a local park in a disadvantaged neighborhood.   In the summer, a lot of kids hang out there all day with only a few pieces of playground equipment to play on. Most of the activities in town are on the other side of town. I have noticed a lack of organized activity in the area, which leads to the kids finding trouble.  

 Our FCS program decided to have a Family fun day to encourage bonding and healthy living.  We decided to call the day Ohana Day.   We partnered with the public library,  local banks, an exercise studio, a service center, and the local VFW.    Duncan’s Service Center provided tires for an obstacle course. Three of our local banks, Farmers Bank and Trust Co, First United Bank, and C Plant Federal Credit Union, purchased colors for our color run obstacle course we had for the local kids.   Full Body Fitness had a free hula hoop exercise class at the park, and the VFW provided a free meal for all families.  The public library brought the bookmobile and let kids check out books or get a library card if they did not already have one. We had family games such as cornhole, giant Jenga, and Limbo.    The art teacher at the local elementary school volunteered to paint faces as well. In addition to these activities, we also had a smoothie bike.  We discussed healthy eating and gave healthy smoothie recipes; those who participated could taste-test the smoothies.  We had a sensory area for kids made from household items.  Our Ag agent, Dee Heimgartner, taught a lesson on how to make a sensory garden and gave away the one she made as a door prize. 

That day, 43 people were in attendance, plus eight volunteers.  Twenty-seven males, 16 females, and 7 African Americans participated. 

Informal assessment revealed that seven kids had never had a smoothie before, and an additional 12 kids had never had a smoothie that was not from a fast food restaurant.   Three parents said they would make a sensory garden at their homes.  After the program, the office had phone calls from other organizations wanting to do park programs. A mother from the neighborhood contacted me in October to thank me for having the program because she has noticed several other programs since then and stated that the kids there “don’t have much, and they need something to do”