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Summer snacks start strong
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Neighbors | Amanda Tonoli.Students attending the Summer Picnic Program on June 15 at the Austintown library got to enjoy a packed lunch donated by the library partnered with Neighborhood Ministries.
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Neighbors | Amanda Tonoli.Before lunch arrived, students participating in the Summer Picnic Program played with Legos as their craft activity at the Austintown library.
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Neighbors | Amanda Tonoli.Students at the Austintown library lined up in the afternoon on June 15 for packed lunches from the Summer Picnic Program.
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Neighbors | Amanda Tonoli.The Austintown library celebrated the first day of the Summer Picnic Program on June 15. Pictured, from left, are Karleesa Rickerd, Annastasia Ashburn, Cadence and Matthew McStowe.
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Neighbors | Amanda Tonoli.Matthew McStowe unpacked his lunch and investigated the contents within on June 15, the kickoff day for the Summer Picnic Program and the Austintown library.
By amanda tonoli
Neighborhood Ministries and the Austintown library became partners for a special Summer Picnic Program for children looking for a lunchtime snack and fun activity.
Librarian Linda Kucalaba helped run the Summer Picnic Program on its kick-off day on June 15.
“This is the first year we are going to try it — Newport [library] has done it in the past,” Kucalaba said.
This program offers some type of activity to accompany the food provided, on June 15 students got to build with Legos.
“In addition to providing lunch we always try to have some kind of enrichment activity for the kids,” Kucalaba said.
Kucalaba said she liked Lego-related activites because they embrace creativity.
Many students who participated in Drama Camp, offered previously that day, stayed for the Summer Picnic Program to socialize with one another and spend time at their library. The added bonus of staying around was getting complimentary lunch.
Like the Aftercare Program, the Summer Picnic Program welcomes special guests to further education and fun for those in attendance. On June 18, a program assistant from The Ohio State University extension office in Canfield came to teach students about nutrition and provided a brief fitness activity.
Many librarians at the Austintown library said they are excited to see how this new program pans out and are eager to help with those who wish to participate.
Summer Picnic Program is offered at the Austintown library Mondays and Thursdays for the duration of the summer.