Church's Neighborhood Carnival Fosters Fellowship

neighborhood carnival fostered community connections while local children played games and won prizes.

“It’s just to give some of the community and neighborhood kids something to do,” said Pam Dinunzio, a volunteer at the carnival.  

The carnival, held Saturday afternoon, included a bounce house for children, crafts, face painting, a cakewalk and various games of skill and accuracy such as ladder golf, a putt-putt golf hole, a ring toss and shooting beanbags through target holes.  

The free carnival was open to all, church member or not. Food also was provided.

Event organizer Sarah Pettigrew estimated about 80 children visited the carnival.

Wyandotte resident and church volunteer Debbie Stollings said that number is higher than last year and likely is because of the nice weather.

Dinunzio and Stollings were two of several teachers, both current and retired, who volunteered at the carnival. Dinunzio and Stollings both teach at Lincoln Park High School.

Pettigrew of Wyandotte said the carnival was publicized by sending flyers to and passing out flyers door-to-door.

“We definitely just want to let people know we’re here, and there’s no strings attached," she said. "It’s not like ‘Oh, you have to go to our church.'" ...  It’s kind of a nice way to reach out to the neighborhood and show them that we’re here and just give kids a free opportunity for some positive fun."

The church hosts free programs at least once a month for children, Pettigrew said. First Congregational Church of Wyandotte will partner with other local churches for Trunk or Treat 4-7 p.m. on Oct. 29. The event lets children go trick-or-treating in the parking lot of , and will include a costume contest and a movie.

The sense of community from working with other churches is nice because it allows church members to branch out and help others who are not part of their church, Stollings said.

She said events like the neighborhood carnival are “more along the lines of ‘give help somewhere, do something.’ ”

“Here, there, anywhere, just get involved in your community,” she said.

In addition to organizing the annual carnival, Pettigrew about five years ago also helped start a community meal program in which several churches cooperate and work together, Stollings said.

operates out of First Congregational Church of Wyandotte and provides free hot meals to anyone at noon Wednesdays and Saturdays.

“Sarah has a real vision for the community," Stollings said. "She works really hard."