Special to the Mountain News:

The Graham-Kapowsin Community Council is hosting its 15th Annual EXPO in support of the dozens of community programs it administers, most notably a food service for children in the Bethel School District.

As in years past there will be a crafts fair and fun run, but this year the event moves to Frontier Park. Here are the details:

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INTRODUCTION: The Graham – Kapowsin Community Council is celebrating 15 years of service to the residents of the Greater Graham area.

WHEN: Our annual “EXPO ‘Feed the Children’ Fundraiser” & Fun Run/Walk will be held on Saturday, March 3, 2018 from 9AM-3PM

WHERE: This year, the festivities will be held at Frontier Park Lodge (Pierce County Fairgrounds), 21718 Meridian E, Graham, WA 98338.

PURPOSE: We are actively seeking donations or sponsors to assist us in achieving our goals by:

1. Providing a safe community environment for the 560 homeless children in the Greater Graham area;

2. Educating our children, keeping them off of drugs and building strong families;

3. Giving children hope, pride and helping them to become responsible adults;

4. Giving them a brighter future;

5. Providing food and shelter to at-risk children and their families in need;

Your contribution goes a long way in achieving these goals and the rewards are very positive!

We continue to educate and guide our children through excellent learning programs within the Bethel School District.

We would be honored to have you as a valuable sponsor and community volunteer!

This is the perfect way to make a difference for these children. We are looking for Vendors, Shoppers, Donations, Entertainers, Sponsors and participants for our Fun Run / Walk Event.

FUN RUN / WALK: We hope you will help us by participating in this Worthy Project aimed at raising funds for ‘FEED the Children’ Program and Harvest House.

$10 suggested donation; Fun Run T-shirt is $10; Register at the event, which starts at 10:00 AM; All ages invited!

There are over 560 hungry and homeless teens in the Greater Graham Area.

Your contribution truly makes a difference in these precious lives! HELP FEED A CHILD IN NEED! COME OUT FOR THIS FREE EVENT — SUPPORT THE LOCAL COMMUNITY — FREE TO ALL AGES

For more information, please contact Carol Wright at 253 279 3071 or carol.victoria.wright@gmail.com

Graham/Kapowsin Community Council grahamlearning.org http://www.g-kcc.org G-KCC.org is non-profit 501 (c) (3) #91-17744452

NOTE:  The Graham-Kapowsin Community Council is looking for vendors, shoppers, sponsors and donors to join the fun on Saturday March 3, 2018 from 9-3 at the new Frontier Park Lodge on the Pierce County Fair Grounds 21718 Meridian E., Graham, WA 98338 for our 15 Annual FEED the Children EXPO.

Kayla and I appreciate all of the folks who have participated in the past and now, in cooperation with the Harvest House Food Pantry and a community engagement program with the Bethel School District we’d like you to consider supporting these enrichment efforts in this greater Graham area.

GKCC is a 501 (c)(3) in partnership with the Bethel School District creating community programs in an attempt to link community and muscle out “meth labs” (M.O.M.L.). This non-profit budget will not stretch very far so we truly appreciate your generous time and efforts! I also know that as people participate we will build stronger families in this area and they will then have a chance to become more engaged in these positive efforts! It’s wonderful to see this kind support, involvement and tremendous encouragement from neighbors, other communities, the Harvest House Food Pantry, the Pierce County Parks Department, local churches and the Bethel school district.

Thank you so much for being there for our families in the past as it’s people like you who are making a huge difference in our neighborhoods!

 

15^th Annual

EXPO

Fun Run/Walk

Sat. Mar. 3, 2018 9-3p.m.

1. To Benefit Feed the Children Project

2. Frontier Park Lodge

3. 21718 Meridian E, Graham

4. Entertainment Application: FREE!

5. Booth fee: $35, be a Sponsor, Shop locally

Information: 253 279 3071 g-kcc.org Carol.victoria.wright@gmail.com

Info. Provided as a public service announcement & does not represent sponsorship or endorsement by Bethel School District.

Editor’s Note:

The above notice from the GKCC mentions 500-plus teens in the Greater Graham area as being “homeless.” However, this term is misleading as these children are not living on the street or in a tent behind the Graham Library. Rather, they are federally designated “McKinney-Vento” students, which are children who register for school in September without a permanent address. Most of these children live with a family member, such as a grandparent, or with a parental figure out-of-district. As such they are entitled to certain public benefits, such as daily transportation to their school from wherever their home might be.

Nevertheless, the GKCC’s FEED the CHILDREN program is vital to the community as large numbers of students – more than just the McKinney-Vento kids – are underfed and dependent upon the free breakfast and lunch programs at area schools. As such, they do not have access to free or low-cost meals during weekends and school vacations. As a result, the GKCC has righteously stepped-in to fill a critical need.