YMCA hosting Back to School Bash

BUCYRUS - Nearly 100 children are expected to attend the Back-to-School Bash at the Bucyrus YMCA next month.

The free event, 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Aug. 6, is designed to be a fun, final adventure before children return to classes later in the month.

"We're hoping to bring out a lot of people from the community," said Stephanie Faulkner, fitness and program coordinator at the Bucyrus Area YMCA.

Faulkner said the event will be very similar to the Family Fun Day held at the YMCA in early July. She hopes to have several such events for children every summer.

"We're trying to help raise awareness that the YMCA is changing to help bring the community together," Faulkner said.

The YMCA brought Faulkner and several new employees on board earlier this year, and all of them want to see families spend more time at the facility.

"We know this building needs more kids," Faulkner said. "We want to change things up and make this a family place for kids to come to after school."

The organization has reduced rates for classes such as gymnastics and karate, and will continue to monitor the price of its offerings to ensure the services are accessible to the community.

Attendees next week will have several chances to win school supplies, which Faulkner said she has collected from various businesses throughout the summer. Every child will leave with at least one new item.

"We're going to have a treasure hunt with sand and a pool with prizes inside," Faulkner said. "We're going to have a fishing pond where kids can pull little ducks out."

Anyone who would like to donate more supplies is welcome to deliver them to the YMCA before the event. Faulkner said markers, crayons and notebooks are some of the most needed items.

"We'll take anything we can get," Faulkner said. "We figure if we have extra, we can donate them to a school or somebody who needs them."

All school-aged children are welcome and encouraged to attend.

"We're going to have kickball for the older kids," Faulkner said. "And we're going to have a raffle. We have a lot of items that have been donated by local businesses."

More than 75 attended last month's free event, and Faulkner expects even more will attend on Aug. 6.

"We're going to have open swimming for them," Faulkner said. "They'll be out in the hot heat playing games, then they can go cool off for free."

For details, contact the YMCA, 419-562-6218.

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