Children Services generates smiles at Blueberry Festival

Sept.3-6, 2010 (Labor Day Weekend)

With another 100 pounds of popcorn cooked and handed out, Richland County Children Services left behind a ton of smiles recently at the Lexington Blueberry Festival.

The annual festival draws around 10,000 people during its five-day run.

"We had an amazing week at the Richland County Fair (Aug. 8-14) and we followed that up with a great time in Lexington," said Carl Hunnell, the agency's communication supervisor.

As one of the Lexington event's primary sponsors, RCCS again had usage of a large, covered pavilion inside Community Park. The agency donated a portion of the pavilion to the Lexington Soccer Association as the home base for the group's "3v3" soccer tournament.

Games in the tournament were staged across the street from Community Park on the soccer fields. Tourney organizers said it was a successful first year for the event with 36 teams participating/

"We were thrilled to be able to work with the association and help lots of youngsters and their families who will participate in the tournament," Hunnell said. "It was a perfect match for us."

 In Lexington, in addition to free popcorn, the agency handed out Yo-Yos, megaphones and water bottles, all carrying the agency's logo and phone number, as well as other messages.

Agency employees and other volunteers staffed the booth during all five days of the event.

The numbers from the recently concluded Richland County Fair were fairly amazing, according to Hunnell. (Click here to see a photo gallery from the event.)

"We cooked about 250 pounds of popcorn," he said, "and handed out about 3,500 free bags. I think it's safe to say we were a huge hit inside Fairhaven Hall."

"People who work in the booths around us marvel at the amount of traffic we are generating down our aisle. I told them, 'You're welcome!' "

The agency also sponsored Family Day at the fair on Friday and worked out of a tent in the middle of the fairgrounds, handing out almost 1,000 bags of popcorn and 500 frisbees with the agency logo and phone number.

"I cannot think of a better job in the world than seeing a big smile on a child as you hand him or her a toy and some free popcorn. I have a great job at the fair -- I get to say "you're welcome" all day long on behalf of Richland County Children Services," Hunnell said.

“We are happy to answer questions and offer information about various agency programs, including foster care and adoption, Choose Your Partner Carefully and all of the ongoing services Children Services provides to children and families around Richland County,” Hunnell said.

"On any given day, our agency is working with more than 650 families and more than 1,400 local children on an ongoing basis.

“People hear a lot about investigations the agency does into child abuse and neglect,” Hunnell said. “People also know about our foster care and adoption programs. But not nearly enough people know about the ongoing services we provide aimed at making families stronger and keeping children safe inside their own homes.”

The agency agency and its popular popper will next travel down Route 13 to Bellville for the annual Street Fair Sept. 15-18. We will again hand out popcorn, information and answer questions from those who stop by our booth.

Summer may indeed be winding down and thoughts of cooler weather are just ahead. But community activity for Richland County Children Services is just warming up.

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Richland County Children Services has an opening for a full-time Social Worker. Click here for details.

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Check our 2010 Richland County Fair photo gallery.

Check our 2010 Shelby SummerFest photo gallery.

Check our 2010 Future Stars Golf Program gallery.

Check our 2010 Miss Ohio parade photo gallery.

Check our annual Foster Parent Appreciation Dinner photo gallery.

Visit our 24-hour Swim/Bike/Run photo gallery.

Visit our Pinwheels for Prevention photo gallery.

Visit our St. Peter's balloon launch for child abuse prevention photo gallery.