Lisa's version of the Neighborhood Day summary

NEIGHBORHOOD DAY 2009

The fourth annual Neighborhood Day celebration, sponsored by Children’s Home Society of West Virginia, was held on Saturday, September 19, 2009 from 12-4:00 p.m. in the agency’s parking lot at 1739 St. Mary’s Ave., Parkersburg. The event provided opportunities for families in the surrounding neighborhood to come together; neighbors to meet neighbors and to build a stronger community. The Neighborhood Day celebration is the yearly kick-off in a series of family-focused events that Children’s Home Society hosts in its continuing efforts to strengthen families in our community and to keep children safe. Activities at this year’s event included Bingo, cake-walks, carnival-type games, free refreshments, and a slide from Mountaineer Inflatables.
Information about the various programs offered by Children’s Home Society, and other community agencies were available for participants. Other agencies represented were Urban Ministries, the WV Cervical and Breast Cancer Screening Program, the U.S. Marine Corps, RAZE, the Gabriel Project, St. Andrews Methodist Church, 4-H, Girl Scouts, Mountain State College and the CHAFFEE Independent Living Program. A survey was distributed among those attending to obtain information about stressors families face in this neighborhood and their interest in attending parent groups related to those stressors.
Some projects of the agency’s Summer Youth Program were displayed on a new picnic table donated this week by students at Mountain State College. The table was dedicated to the memory of Sandra Greathouse, an employee of the Senior Community Service Employment Program who had been working at Children’s Home Society for several months prior to her passing this summer.
The winners of the Creative Expressions contest held in conjunction with Neighborhood Day, were announced in the following categories: Sydney Lee, 3rd – 5th grade; Stephanie DeCoursey, 6th – 8th grade; Josh Snider, 9th- 12th grade and Heather Cooper, adult.
Children’s Home Society greatly appreciates the support from the many local businesses who contributed towards this event by donating items for door prizes and food items. Appreciation is also extended to McKinley Elementary School for the use of their tables and chairs as well as the Naval Jr. R.O.T.C. cadets from Parkersburg High School who ran the games, prepared and served food and assisted in clean-up afterwards.
An estimated 175 - 200 people attended this Partners in Prevention project. Funding was provided by grants from Prevent Child Abuse WV in cooperation from the Benedum Foundation, the WVDHHR and the WV Children’s Trust Fund.