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Kids enjoy activities at United Way kickoff
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By Christina Knott
cknott@newstribune.com
Two-year-old Johnathan Michael Carroll gripped three unfolded animal balloons and skittered across the lawn at Memorial Park on Thursday during the United Way's Kickoff for Kids.
Carroll held up his prize collection, which curled around his small frame, at the sight of McGruff the Crime Dog.
“Oh, yes. We're having lots of fun with the balloons,” said Stacey Carroll, who watched her son's excitement. “We tried the face painting but he couldn't stand still enough.”
The 13th Kickoff for Kids went off as expected - the carnival-like atmosphere circled with enthusiasm and energy from more than 100 children and youth.
Linda McAnany, president of the United Way of Central Missouri, passed between booths of games, activities and displays, watching the fun. “I got charged up and got here and now I'm more charged up,” she said smiling.
The annual fall event is hosted by the United Way to “give kids fun,” McAnany said. Most of the children at the carnival benefited from United Way help with participation in programs like the Special Learning Center, the Boys and Girls Club, the Scouts or Big Brother Big Sister.
Multiple agencies joined the United Way in orchestrating the event, including American Family Insurance.
Insurance agent Danny Harris is a six-year volunteer at the Kickoff for Kids. Along with other American Family Insurance staff and agents, Harris helped serve hundreds of free hot dogs for visitors to the celebration.
“It's just a fun thing for the kids,” Harris said simply about why he volunteers.
Music played in the pavilion. Bright-colored clowns lined faces with tiger stripes and whiskers. The Runge Conservation Nature Center had a booth demonstrating interesting facts about animals. Multiple game stations offered prizes for participation.
Shelby, 5, and Lyric, 10, waited in line for a short game of putt-putt golf, Their mother, Ambra Stotler, and grandmother, Roxie Stotler watched nearby with bags of collected tokens.
Suddenly, 5-year-old Shelby cried out and held up her newest prize. “I got exactly what I wanted!” Shelby said, and dropped a small princess notebook into a bag of goodies.
The mother of two said she depended on help from the United Way-sponsored agency, the Jefferson City Day Care, for child care services.
Asked how she felt about the agency, Amber Stotler said decidedly, “I love the United Way.”
Carroll held up his prize collection, which curled around his small frame, at the sight of McGruff the Crime Dog.
“Oh, yes. We're having lots of fun with the balloons,” said Stacey Carroll, who watched her son's excitement. “We tried the face painting but he couldn't stand still enough.”
The 13th Kickoff for Kids went off as expected - the carnival-like atmosphere circled with enthusiasm and energy from more than 100 children and youth.
Linda McAnany, president of the United Way of Central Missouri, passed between booths of games, activities and displays, watching the fun. “I got charged up and got here and now I'm more charged up,” she said smiling.
The annual fall event is hosted by the United Way to “give kids fun,” McAnany said. Most of the children at the carnival benefited from United Way help with participation in programs like the Special Learning Center, the Boys and Girls Club, the Scouts or Big Brother Big Sister.
Multiple agencies joined the United Way in orchestrating the event, including American Family Insurance.
Insurance agent Danny Harris is a six-year volunteer at the Kickoff for Kids. Along with other American Family Insurance staff and agents, Harris helped serve hundreds of free hot dogs for visitors to the celebration.
“It's just a fun thing for the kids,” Harris said simply about why he volunteers.
Music played in the pavilion. Bright-colored clowns lined faces with tiger stripes and whiskers. The Runge Conservation Nature Center had a booth demonstrating interesting facts about animals. Multiple game stations offered prizes for participation.
Shelby, 5, and Lyric, 10, waited in line for a short game of putt-putt golf, Their mother, Ambra Stotler, and grandmother, Roxie Stotler watched nearby with bags of collected tokens.
Suddenly, 5-year-old Shelby cried out and held up her newest prize. “I got exactly what I wanted!” Shelby said, and dropped a small princess notebook into a bag of goodies.
The mother of two said she depended on help from the United Way-sponsored agency, the Jefferson City Day Care, for child care services.
Asked how she felt about the agency, Amber Stotler said decidedly, “I love the United Way.”
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