TAKE A LOOK … Tyler Miller, Jada Reinking, and Desiree Snyder of the Gorham-Fayette Fire Department staff one of their department’s trucks for the Family Fun Day event at the Fulton County Fairgrounds.
By: Jesse Davis
THE VILLAGE REPORTER
jesse@thevillagereporter.com
Laughter and shouts from happy children filled the air at the Fulton County Fairgrounds on Saturday during the 5th annual Family Fun Day.
The free event, put on by OhioMeansJobs Fulton County, brings together representatives from different agencies throughout the county that provide resources to the community. Among those represented Saturday were the Four County ADAMHs Board, the Fulton County Board of Developmental Disabilities, the Fulton County Health Department, and the Wauseon Public Library.
Workforce Development Supervisor Cara Leininger said the event has grown over the years. She said 1,100 people attended the event last year and she expected they would break that record this year.
In particular, she highlighted the involvement of local emergency services who brought personnel and equipment out for children to see, experience, and climb on (and in).
Leininger said the Fulton County Sheriff’s Office, Swanton Police Department, Wauseon Police Department, Wauseon Fire Department, and Gorham-Fayette Fire Department were represented.
“It’s always a good thing for individuals to see the leaders we have in our communities,” Leininger said. “Instead of them just being in scary situations, it’s always great for them to be able to see them, to be able to talk with them.”
Fulton County Sheriff Roy Miller was out with the contingent from his department. He shared his love of the event both specifically and of those like it.
“You don’t get these free events like this where you can bring your children out, get to see the fire trucks and the ambulances and you get to meet deputies and officers around the county,” Miller said.
According to Miller, community events like Family Fun Day help residents of all ages put faces to the agencies and realize they aren’t the bogeymen they are sometimes portrayed as in mass media.
“We like to be involved in the community,” he said.
The event also included a bounce castle and bounce obstacle course for children and free lunch. OhioMeansJobs Fulton County’s next community event is a Touch-a-Truck event at the Fulton County Airport on June 15th.
For more information on that and other events and resources, go to Job and Family Services or OhioMeansJobs Fulton County on fultoncountyoh.com.
