Civic-Social Club hosting annual outreach event
Kids usually enjoying getting out of school for the summer, but sometimes the list of activities to keep them entertained comes up a little short.
To provide some fun-filled activities for the area’s youth and a chance to learn more about their community, the Franklin Civic-Social Club will be hosting their 20th annual Youth Outreach Day this Saturday from 10 a.m. until 2 p.m. at the Chucky Mullins Center in Russellville.
Harold Vaughn, who serves as the vice-president of the Franklin Civic-Social Club, said the event will feature several games and contests including a basketball shoot-out contest, a balloon toss and a hula hoop contest. Cash prizes and seven brand new bicycles will be given away to winners.
Vaughn said participants can also enjoy hotdogs and hamburgers for lunch and they’ll get a chance to talk to members of the Russellville Police Department, the Russellville Fire Department, and possibly members of the Air Evac Life Team if weather permits.
“The departments here in the city are always good about coming out and letting the kids get a chance to see that they are there to help them,” Vaughn said. “We don’t want them to grow up and think the police or the firemen are someone to be scared of. We want them to learn that if everyone in the community works together, the community is a better place.”
Besides giving the children a chance to meet and greet law enforcement and have a chance to tour the fire department’s ladder truck, Vaughn said the day was also a way to reach out to the community’s youth.
“This event just gives our organization a chance to let the children in the community know that there are people out there who care about them and want to see them achieve the best they can for their future,” Vaughn said. “Some of them may not come from good home situations and this is our way of letting them know they are important.
“Plus, there are many kids who don’t get nice summer vacations, so we want them to have the opportunity to do something fun right here in their own town.”
Vaughn said RHS graduate Byron Graham, who is now the athletic director at Florence High School, will be the speaker for the event.
“We usually have a speaker every year who talks to the kids for about 15 minutes about making good decisions and all the opportunities that are available to them if they’ll just do their best,” he said. “It’s good advice that every child could benefit from hearing.
“Even though there’s a lot of fun things happening at this event, we want them to walk away from it having learned a little something, too.”
Everyone in the community is invited to attend this free event.
