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Serendipity Christian Preschool marks 30th year with float in Boardman Memorial Day parade
Photo
Duane Ward, a member of Westminster Presbyterian Church in Boardman, puts a rainbow in place on a float for Serendipity Christian Preschool at the church. Larry Hoff man is obscured by the rainbow.
By LINDA M. LINONIS
Boardman
First-time float builders Larry Hoffman, Bob McCollum and Duane Ward put their handymen skills to work on the project celebrating the 30th year of Serendipity Christian Preschool.
The float will be in Boardman’s Memorial Day parade at 10 a.m. Monday.
The members of Westminster Presbyterian Church, where the preschool is housed, said they “all volunteer” using their handymen skills to help the church.
None had built a float before, but they started in plenty of time. The plans were designed in February and work started in March in the church garage.
Serendipity’s logo is a rainbow, so that only seemed natural to be the main feature. The multicolored rainbow goes into a pot of a gold.
“There’s always happiness at the end of the rainbow,” Hoffman said.
The float also includes stacked blocks with letters of the alphabet. “It’s been an adventure building it,” he said.
The men first built a wooden frame on the cargo trailer belonging to Bob Gibbs, who donated the use of it.
The decorative part of the float sits on the frame.
White vinyl sheeting forms a skirt around the trailer. That’s the backdrop for colorful handprints made by children attending Serendipity.
Recently, Sandy Knaus, preschool director, and Susan McGee, former director who was visiting the preschool, helped children have their hands painted in bright colors then make handprints on the vinyl sheeting.
The result was a whimsical design along with an imprint of the children.
The handprints aren’t the children’s only contribution.
They also painted the letters on the blocks, Knaus said. “It was another way for them to help out.”
Children, their parents and church members will walk along with the float in the annual parade.
Participants will wear T-shirts with the church name and image on the front and the message, “Westminster — serving Boardman and beyond through faith.” The church also will have antique cars in the parade.
“It’s a worthy cause to help out the church and the kids,” Ward said.
McCollum added, “It’s about the kids. This is good church with good people so it’s easy to pitch in.”
The Rev. David Joachim, Westminster pastor, said the church had a float in Boardman’s 200th-year event in 2005. “Members are excited about this celebration,” he said.
The pastor added that the 30th year for the preschool is cause for celebration. “It’s because of the staff, their commitment and love of children,” he said.