Courtesy Photo | Joint Base Myer-Henderson Hall Child and Youth Program Assistant Kelley Smith...... read more read more
JOINT BASE MYER-HENDERSON HALL, Va. - JBM-HH families and others from across the National Capital Region descended upon the Cody Child Development Center for hay rides, urban line dancing and even to catch candy while blindfolded at the annual Harvest Fest on Joint Base Myer-Henderson Hall.
The popular event was held Oct. 23 on the lawn in front of the Cody CDC building on the Fort Myer portion of the joint base. Kids jumped up and down inside inflatables, got their faces painted, ran around and danced to hip-hop music. Parents chatted with each other while their kids occupied themselves with activities; some captured pictures of their toddlers crawling through a mini pumpkin patch or in front of a back drop made out of hay, decorated with multiple scarecrows and pumpkins. Also, joint base fire fighters gave parents a chance to take pictures of their toddlers sitting in the front seat of the fire truck.
“[This event] is really important because it gives our families a chance to do some really fun activities with their children,” said Donna Garfield, program operations specialist at Cody CDC. “Also, it gives the parents a chance to get the kids involved with where they work.”
Jeff Chatman, whose daughter attends Cody CDC, believes this event serves as a tool to help him to build better relationships with the community.
“Sometimes, we come and just drop our kids off,” he said. “If you don’t meet people within that five or 10 minute window, you won’t get to know other children, you don’t get to know other parents.”
As Henry Wolfinger, 72, patiently waited for his granddaughter, Kennedy, 4, to finish getting her face painted. He said he thought the event was good because of the multiple activities. Wolfinger, who personally hasn’t served in the military, loves to bring Kennedy, who attends Hoffman-Boston Elementary school not far from the joint base, to the annual festival.
“Everyone is having fun,” Wolfinger said.
Vendors also provided pamphlets about existing and new family care programs, immunizations and child safety on JBM-HH.
Garfield said this is one of two seasonal events centered on health and fitness.
“This is a great place to pass out information,” said Susan McGlothin, community educator, JBM-HH Army Community Service. Her husband served in the Navy for 22 years. Thanks to their traveling while serving in the military, they’ve visited more than 10 harvest fests over the years; the event at JBM-HH was her first fall festival for 2015.
Chatman said that his daughter, age 10, makes sure he puts harvest fest on his calendar each year.
“This event definitely brings people together,” he said. “It is a fun event for the whole family.”
| Date Taken: | 10.23.2015 |
| Date Posted: | 10.28.2015 17:27 |
| Story ID: | 180218 |
| Location: | JOINT BASE MYER-HENDERSON HALL, VIRGINIA, US |
| Web Views: | 49 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
This work, Harvest Fest brings fall fun for JBM-HH families, by James Goodwin, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
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