Free toys, activities offered at county fair

By D.A. Wilkinson

People can search for fun or for relief at the fair.

LISBON — A social service agency will provide free toys and events at the Columbiana County Fair for people of all ages — and help if needed.

The program is the brainchild of workers at the Community Action Agency of Columbiana County, which provides a host of programs.

Carol Bretz is the agency’s executive director and a fan of the county fair.

When people purchased animals at the fair sales for publicity, but not the meat, the CAA received three donated hogs, a steer and a goat. The milk-giving goat got a reprieve, and the needy received the meat from the other animals, she said.

After talking with the fair board, the CAA has moved its fair operations that had been in a tent into the commercial building, where there is better seating and shade.

Parents can bring in their children to pick up a free toy.

Ruth Allison, emergency services director for CAA, said the idea is to provide goodies for families that may have tight budgets.

“We see so many people that need help,” Allison said.

The CAA events are open to all people.

Starting at 1 p.m. today, seniors can toss bean bags and take part in card and other games. The winner in the bean-bag contest will get two tickets to hear singer Jake Owens at the fair. The other winners can get gift cards or certificates.

Allison said that merchants outside the fair who donated gifts may get a boost if the winners redeem the cards and maybe spend a bit more.

Children’s games begin at noon Wednesday with traditional events such as a bean-bag toss and pinning the nose on a clown. The winners of a 2 p.m. hula hoop contest get prizes and a chance at a drawing for tickets to the Cleveland or Pittsburgh zoos.

At 2 p.m. Wednesday, events are for adults and older children. There will be a scavenger hunt for about 15 items at the fairgrounds. There also will be a Mystery Guest game in which people will hunt for clues to identify someone at the fair. The winner will receive two tickets to Lorrie Morgan’s concert Friday.

Ever play with a plastic barrel of monkeys when you were a child? Some of those barrels, without the monkeys, will be stashed around the fairgrounds with prizes inside for people to discover.

The CAA also is hosting an amateur photo contest of things at the fair that are interesting, fun or exciting. Entries must be filed by Saturday and will be judged by fair visitors. Allison said photos will also be used during the 2009 fair.

The nonprofit CAA, like other social service agencies, has seen an increase in calls this year.

Allison said, “People ask, ‘Can you tell me where to get help?’”

Visitors to the commercial building also can ask for information about contacts or programs that can provide relief.

“If we don’t run it, we know who does,” Allison added.

wilkinson@vindy.com