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Primed for school
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SUGARY TREAT: Juan Luciano, of Campbell, and Francisco Morales, of Youngtown, volunteered at the Salvation Army on Glenwood Avenue during the “Kids Fun Fair” Wednesday afternoon. The pair bagged cotton candy, and Morales said his family has been involved with the organization for many years.
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Walter Talley, 6, of Youngstown, makes a bracelet while at the "Kids Fun Fair" at The Salvation Army on Glenwood Ave., Wednesday afternoon.
Salvation Army helps kids in need of supplies
By ELISE McKEOWN SKOLNICK
VINDICATOR CORRESPONDENT
YOUNGSTOWN — Cars lined the streets around the Salvation Army building, kids played on swings and slides and parents and grandparents patiently waited in a line that snaked across the parking lot.
Mahoning County residents lined up Wednesday for the Salvation Army’s annual school-supply giveaway hours earlier than the starting time of 10 a.m.
“My grandkids are in need of some school supplies, so I brought them up here for their mother,” said Sis York of Youngstown. “It’s great. It helps out a lot of kids in Youngstown who don’t have anything, the parents being out of work.”
After receiving their book bags full of school supplies, the three were surprised to discover a fun fair.
At tables spread throughout the gym, kids were able to learn about healthful snacks and taking care of their teeth. They also were treated to popcorn and cotton candy and had the opportunity to make various crafts. Two inflatable bounce houses were part of the fun.
With new backpacks slung over their shoulders, York’s grandkids made the tour of the tables, walking away with paper bags stuffed with healthful snacks, water bottles, cotton candy and handmade crafts.
Makala Shultz, York’s 12-year-old granddaughter, said she wasn’t looking forward to going back to school but does enjoy art class. She made a picture of a gumball machine filled with gum.
York, Shultz and Shultz’s 6-year-old brother, Charlie, waited nearly three hours to get into the building.
Makala admitted to being a bit impatient, but the two children enjoyed the nearby playground while they waited.
“I went down the slide, and it was wet,” Charlie said.
The wait was worth it, York said.
“I’m really happy and pleased that we came. The kids are really enjoying this,” she said.
This is the first time the Salvation Army on Glenwood Avenue has paired the school-supply giveaway with a fun fair, said Sarah Cordero, caseworker.
“They’ll be able to get a little bit of supplies to go back to school and also have a little fun,” she said.
About 1,000 kids receive backpacks, Cordero said. The packs are filled with notebooks, pencils, pens, folders, crayons and other necessary school supplies.
The Salvation Army counts on donations from the community to make the project work.
Kids need a lot of school supplies, noted Dusty Tovtin of Hubbard, and the Salvation Army event helps.
“Especially when people don’t have very good incomes, this helps them save on [school supplies],” Tovtin said.
She attended the event with her three elementary-school-age sons, Chris, Michael, and Devin Blystone, and her mother, Patricia Tovtin. They waited about two hours for their turn to get supplies and tour the fun fair.
It was worth it, they agreed.
“I think it’s nice what they do. It’s really good,” Patricia Tovtin said. “I like [the fun fair]. It’s more for the kids, more fun.”