Monday, February 27, 2017
By ELISE McKEOWN SKOLNICK
YOUNGSTOWN
Zion Lutheran Church was turned into a carnival for a day, complete with food, games and prizes.
For $5, kids could play as many games and participate in as many activities as they wanted Sunday. Options included an obstacle course, bean bag toss, bounce house and more. A clown made balloon animals for children, and food was for sale. A basket raffle included handmade items and baskets full of games, gift cards and more.
The event, in its fifth year, takes place in February when the weather is normally cold and the kids need to run off energy, said Janelle Nagy, superintendent of the church’s Christian education.
“It’s easy, cheap family fun,” Nagy said.
Addison McCaskey’s favorite game was disco bowling. Under a canopy with colored lights, the 2-year-old grabbed multicolored plastic balls, squatted and rolled them down a slope into small tunnels. When she tired of that, she headed to the clown to request a balloon puppy.
“I think it’s really nice,” said her mother, Ashley Kroll, of Austintown. “It brings kids together, gives them something to do. Especially since it’s winter and there’s not really anything to do.”
As the kids played games, they were given tickets to redeem for prizes.
The event “is really fun,” said Noah Chizmar, 10, of Boardman. “I like all the prizes and the games that you can do here.”
He couldn’t choose a favorite game, though.
He gave some tickets to kids who didn’t have enough for prizes they wanted and redeemed some for prizes for his siblings and himself.
Prizes include nail polish, cars, Easter toys, and more, he said.
He attends every year with his mother, Stephanie Chizmar, and his siblings, Abigail, 5, and Zachary, 12.
“They’ve looked forward to it every year,” Stephanie said. “It’s just a great family time, and it’s for a good cause.”
Profits from the event benefit Zion Youth, the church’s youth group, and God’s Global Barnyard, which helps provide food and clean water in countries where they’re needed.
Everything needed for the event is donated, said Nagy. About 200 to 250 attended. Last year’s event raised $1,200.