Aurora's Wesley UMC serves kids food, reading, crafts
About 50 kids met outdoors at Aurora's Blackhawk Park Aug. 2 for food, stories and crafts.
The event concluded four Monday programs presented by Wesley United Methodist Church in Aurora. It featured children decorating drawstring school bags with markers, in addition to reading, coloring and chalk drawing.
Assisting with playtime supervision and playdough for kindergartners were staffers from Fox Valley Park District and Aurora's SPARK, Supporting Partnerships to Assure Ready Kids, a program providing kindergarten readiness for families with preschool-age children.
Geneva-based Northern Illinois Food Bank's Meals on the Move, a mobile route, provided breakfasts and box lunches. Meals on the Move distributes summer meals to Aurora children to age 18 at six Aurora parks Monday through Friday. The outreach is part of the USDA's Summer Food Service Program.
Michelle Curiel, program coordinator, said the church's first-ever Blackhawk Park series from 12:30 to 2:30 p.m. was free to the public. No registration or identification was required.
According to Curiel, neighborhood kids in first through sixth grades were invited to "...come out and take advantage of free food and fun activities." Attendance ranged from 35 to 50 children.
Take-home kits focused on nutrition and community development. They included "Create Your Own Food Truck," "Waste Not!" "Grow Your Own!" and "Design your own Bag!"
Curiel added, "We're excited to be working in our community to provide a fun and safe outlet for the children in our neighborhood."