Children's Health Day draws hundreds of kids, parents

Rick Dandes, The Daily Item, Sunbury, Pa.
·2 min read

Apr. 7—LEWISBURG — Hundreds of elementary school-age kids, their friends, parents and caregivers assembled for three hours of learning and healthy exercising Saturday morning at the annual Evangelical Community Hospital Children's Health Fair, featuring YMCA Healthy Kids Day Activities.

The event had been staged years ago at Kelly Elementary School, moved to the Susquehanna Valley Mall and, for the last several years, has been at the Miller Center, said Andrew Kauffman, communications director.

The idea behind the event, said Deana Carson, Evangelical Hospital community health and wellness educator, "is that we have so many organizations in our community that are established to help children and their families. This was set up as a way to raise awareness for the different outreach in the community that people can take advantage of. Every table set up here is a different business or volunteer group and parents can go table to table. There are kids activities at every table where parents can learn about what programs they have that they may be interested in."

"I'm going to do everything today," said Barbara Klein, 5, of Danville. Sitting beside her was her mom, Juliet, who said "Barb has so much energy. This will be fun for her, the dancing, the little obstacle course."

Pet therapy dogs gathered a crowd of kids, who pet and hugged Drake. Laurel Brumbach, 6, joined friends Audrey Haas, 4, and Mason Haas, 2 of Sunbury.

Watching families file in, Kauffman said, "I still feel like we are in a post-pandemic recovery with these large, in-person events. At one time we had more than a thousand kids register for this event at the Susquehanna Valley Mall. I don't expect that many people here today. Last year there were about 350 participants. We hope that number continues to grow."

Thirty-seven health-oriented organizations set up tables, offering information for attendees, with a focus on key factors of good health including eating right, exercising, taking part in health screenings, and making good decisions about healthy living. Organizations there included Union Snyder Community Health Organization, Evangelical Imaging, Camp Victory, CSIU, Transitions of Pa., Donald Heiter Community Center, and Citizens for Gun Safety.

Children who attended had a chance to win a free bicycle (more than 10 were available, from toddler size to mountain bikes for 12-year-olds.

A special activity schedule for children attending included 15-minute classes taught by YMCA-certified instructors: Pound (cardio jam session), dance, and yoga.

Kingdom Kidz was on hand to share their puppet show form of entertainment.

A free bike helmet giveaway event for children 12 and under was held and was sponsored this year by the Kiwanis Club of Buffalo Valley in Lewisburg Inc. and new sponsor, The John C. Watson and John C. Watson Jr. Trust Fund.