The 2012 Community Carnival was jammed packed with free festivities on Saturday, June 9th.
The laughter of children discovering the bouncy ride and many tables offering face-painting and games filled the afternoon. In an effort to provide area families with a safe and fun environment to enjoy a carefree day among their neighbors in the community, Children of the City has organized this annual event for the last 9 years. Groups of volunteers worked alongside COC staff to put together a day that included live music, a watermelon eating contest, tug-of-war, relay races, and more. Hundreds wandered the carnival with free hotdogs clutched in their hands and faces brightly painted. Parents were given the opportunity to discover the many resources available to them as well as a chance to sign up their children for the summer program offered by COC. Children of the City, once again partnering with Health Plus Amerigroup, and volunteers from all over New York.
“Our goal is to provide a place where children can learn, play and be safe,” said Joyce Mattera, Founder and Executive Director. “Every year over 10 million children are involved in violence in schools. West Brooklyn has over 28% of children living below the poverty line. We need out-of-school programs with affordable activities that will engage them in learning. This event speaks to the very mission of Children of the City. We have a year-round after-school program as well as monthly Saturday events that meet the diverse needs of academic and social development for children.”
