A brand new event is designed to help parents find things for their kids to do this summer in Macomb.
The McDonough County Quality of Life Youth Task Force organized what it is called the Summer Resource Blitz. Committee Chair Megan Owens said the event is a chance for families to meet youth program providers and to help those families register children for activities such as camps, art classes, and sports.
“In the Macomb community, there’s a wealth of programs offered for children and families but not everyone is aware of them,” she said.
The Summer Resource Blitz will take place Saturday, April 23 at four locations:
· Prairieview Townhomes Community Room, 11:20 a.m. to 12:10 p.m.
· Creekside Apartments, 12:45 p.m. to 1:40 p.m.
· River Run Apartments, 2:00 p.m. to 2:50 p.m.
· The Patton Park Pavilion, 3:30 p.m. to 4:45 p.m.
Owens said Go West public transportation serves each of those locations.
“This is a chance for a parent, a guardian, a grandparent to come and talk with a member of the YMCA, the library, and our arts council. They can get information and register on the spot. We wanted to make it as easy as possible for them,” Owens said, adding that the Good Food Collaborative Kids Cook program, the little league, and the park district will also have representatives at each site.
In addition, the NAACP and the Macomb Police Department will have representatives on hand.
There is no cost to attend the blitz and it’s open to the entire community.
Some of the programs charge fees, though Owens said many of them provide scholarships for participants. She encouraged families to inquire about those.
Owens, who is also a faculty member in the Department of Recreation, Park, and Tourism Administration at Western Illinois University, believes it’s valuable to connect children and families with activities.
“We know that it’s particularly important for children to have many role models throughout their lives. And a lot of times these role models come through their youth programs,” she said.
More information is available by calling Owens at 309-298-2990 or sending her an email at mh-owens@wiu.edu
She said the Summer Resource Blitz is made possible by Go West, the Regional Office of Education, the McDonough County Housing Authority, and the participating program providers.
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