Jun 16, 2002 4 min read

By April Straughters Herald-Standard

The rain did not put a damper on the Family Fun Fest Saturday as hundreds of families made their way to the Fayette County Fairgrounds for a day of free activities, prizes, music and food.

The Fayette County Human Service Council proved that learning can be fun as the organization sponsored the annual Family Fun Fest as a way to provide a fun day for families while at the same time informing them about the various social services available in the area.

“We want to educate the community on services available but we also want to entertain the family. This is a place where you can be educated and have fun,” said John DeCarlo, Human Service Council chairman.

DeCarlo said live music, a petting zoo, traveling clowns and magicians and a variety of food booths gave way to a well-rounded event. He said he was very pleased with the turnout.

“Considering the elements we’re doing good. We’re pushing 600 (participants). So I can’t complain. We are growing each year and this is the second year we’ve had rain and we still had a good crowd,” he said.

DeCarlo said the event actually benefits both the community and the different agencies involved.

The agencies provided activities and prizes to children and various services to adults as a way to attract people to their information booths, where brochures and other literature were available.

The Family Health Council Inc. offered free temporary tattoos. Early Head Start of Fayette County helped children plant flower seeds in small cups. The Private Industry Council provided a small swimming pool of plastic fish where children could go fishing.

Lugene Rossini, practice manager at the Family Health Council, said, “This is a great outreach experience. We’re giving people the information they need in a comfortable atmosphere. The activities make it easy to engage in conversations because people are having fun.”

Robin Johnson, who is a member of the Family Leadership Network said the event gave her an opportunity to learn about other agencies and services in the county, while her children, Julee, 11 and Savanah, 6, and their friend, Chelsea Whipkey, 10, all had a good time playing games and making crafts at the various booths.

“I think it’s great for kids and it gives parents information about what help is available, ” Johnson said.

“It’s very interesting, very informative,’ Janet Taylor of Smithfield, said. “I learned a lot about poisoning on foods and different health care that is available,” she said, as she watched her grandchildren, Joshua and Amber Young, ages 6 and 3 respectively, make paintings at a booth sponsored by the Bruderhoff.

Perhaps the longest line of people formed at the Bruderhoff booth awaiting beautiful flower garlands to wear as a decorative hairpiece.

Although the Bruderhoff is not a county agency, Ellen Newton, said it wanted to be a part of the event.

“We just want to be good neighbors. We’re glad to help out in the area if there are needs,” she said.

Phil Gneiting, an elementary school teacher at Bruderhoff, agreed.

“You don’t have to be an agency to do something nice. We wanted our kids to come out and meet other kids and teach them how to fold paper,” he said.

Bruderhoff children, including Madeleine Goodwin, 14, and Lydia Newton, 13 assisted children in making spin painting and small boxes out of colorful paper.

“It’s a lot of fun. A lot of kids are stopping by to do this,” Lydia Newton said.

All the agencies and organizations that sponsored booths reported having a high amount of participation.

“Considering the weather we had a good turnout,” Lucinda Robbins community and economic development agent at Penn State Cooperative Extension, whose booths promoted the area with various games and quizzes.

“We want people to know their community better,” Robbins said. “People are finding out things that they didn’t know. They are learning about their heritage.”