#KeystoneCares holds annual kids’ event at Central Mountain High School
PHOTO PROVIDED Children and their families spread out blankets and enjoyed a good book during #KeystoneCares annual Reading Under the Lights event at Don Malinak Stadium on Wednesday evening.
PHOTO PROVIDED The Ross Library’s Miss Holly reads to kids during Reading Under the Lights on Wednesday night.
PHOTO PROVIDED #KeystoneCare partners set up booths that offered activities and informational flyers for families during Reading Under the Lights on Wednesday at Don Malinak Stadium.
PHOTO PROVIDED #KeystoneCare partners set up booths that offered activities and informational flyers for families during Reading Under the Lights on Wednesday at Don Malinak Stadium.
PHOTO PROVIDED Children and their families spread out blankets and enjoyed a good book during #KeystoneCares annual Reading Under the Lights event at Don Malinak Stadium on Wednesday evening.
PHOTO PROVIDED The Ross Library’s Miss Holly reads to kids during Reading Under the Lights on Wednesday night.
PHOTO PROVIDED #KeystoneCare partners set up booths that offered activities and informational flyers for families during Reading Under the Lights on Wednesday at Don Malinak Stadium.
PHOTO PROVIDED #KeystoneCare partners set up booths that offered activities and informational flyers for families during Reading Under the Lights on Wednesday at Don Malinak Stadium.
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MILL HALL -- The weather proved perfect for #KeystoneCares annual Reading Under the Lights event at Don Malinak Stadium this week.
Children and their families gathered at the stadium to enjoy good books, take part in a basket raffle and enjoy various games.
#KeystoneCares is a collaborative community group that has a different focus during several months out of the year.
The idea is to focus on practices that will improve the lives of children and families in Clinton County, while also promoting the importance of education.
The focuses include the importance of reading, drug prevention education, homelessness awareness, charity and giving, the importance of attendance, family connectedness, being active and healthy and mental health awareness.
The group was formed in 2016 at the request of Clinton County President Judge Craig P. Miller and is composed of the following entities: Keystone Central School District; Clinton County Courts; Clinton County Commissioners; Clinton County Children and Youth; Clinton County Probation; Mental Health/Intellectual Disabilities; Sleep In Heavenly Peace; Clinton County Housing Authority; Clinton County Housing Coalition; Lock Haven University; The Ross Library; Kiwanis Club of Bald Eagle and Nittany Valleys; Health Choices; West Branch Drug and Alcohol; River Valley YMCA; The Salvation Army and Lock Haven University.
The organization's Reading Under the Lights event is held each year at Central Mountain High School and Bucktail Middle/High School. Bucktail's program will be held on Wednesday, Sept. 25, at 6 p.m.
Roughly 50 kids and their families attended Wednesday's event, which featured lots to do.
Each child who attended received tickets to enter into a basket raffle that included donations from: KCSD, Clinton County Probation, Clinton County Children & Youth, Clinton County Housing Authority, West Branch Drug and Alcohol, The Salvation Army. The Ross Library, Health Choices and Mental Health/Intellectual Disabilities.
Kids also could enjoy snacks and receive a free book.
Guest readers -- including cheerleaders from KCSD, Holly Eisaman from The Ross Library and a number of students, both athletes and club members, from Commonwealth University-Lock Haven -- were set up across the football field where families could sit and have a story read to them.
"Christine Wise, the assistant director of Community Service at the university, was able to organize for several of the LHU students to attend," Autumn Geyer, director of Clinton County Children & Youth said. "Alexis Mayes, is a student at LHU and is the president of the community services club at LHU. She was able to have several students accompany her to assist with the event."
Families were also encouraged to bring their own books to sit and read for a bit at the field.
"The #KeystoneCares group continues to grow each year. The group is successful because of the individuals that make up the group and take time out of their day to meet, plan and organize these activities that have a positive impact in the community," Bower said. "I’m beyond thankful for all of their efforts. Seeing these families and children come, seeing the smiles on their faces and getting to interact with them makes these events so significant to the group."
Reading Under the Lights is sponsored by Croda, Pepsi, Weis Market, Walmart, Lock Haven Kiwanis, Kiwanis of Bald Eagle and Nittany Valleys, Wayne Township Landfill and Sons of Italy.