Picnic for Lehigh Valley Children's Centers
One of Kiwanis Club of Allentown Signature Projects
The weather was perfect on May 12, 2022 for our 12th Annual LVCC Picnic at the beautiful Allentown Rose Garden Park. This annual signature project of our Kiwanis Club was suspended for two years due to the pandemic. It was wonderful that we could renew the
event thanks to the hard work of sponsors Keith and Jessica Reynolds, and volunteers from our club and area Key Clubs.
Once again we rented all three pavilions at the park. One was used for the children’s picnic lunch, another for Key Club members to hang out, and the third for arts & crafts.
The Reynolds family and friends, as well as several of our club members began setting up for the event by 8 AM. School by school, Key Club members from William Allen, Allentown Central Catholic, Parkland, Salisbury and Southern Lehigh Key Clubs began
arriving. Keith provided them with an orientation and a tour of the six activity stations.
After 9 AM, 163 children from the LVCC South Mountain, Walnut Street and Early Learning Center (ELC) locations began arriving. By 10:30 AM, the kids were on their way under the escort of their instructors and Key Club volunteers. 
They enjoyed the parachute game, obstacle course, bubble-making station, t-ball, two science experiments, and the arts and crafts station where they painted little birdhouses.
Meanwhile, several of our
volunteers helped prepare lunch by firing up the grill, roasting hot dogs, and lining up the food station.
Around 11 AM, we enjoyed a visit by the LV Phantoms mascot MeLVin. He interacted
with the Allen HS Canary and Salisbury HS Falcon mascots. Kids love the mascots!
Shortly thereafter, we were honored by a visit from Allentown Mayor Matt Tuerk. Mayor Tuerk visited several of the activity stations and seemed to have a good time interacting with the children.
They enjoyed the parachute game, obstacle course, bubble-making station, t-ball, two science experiments, and the arts and crafts station where they painted little birdhouses.
Meanwhile, several of our
volunteers helped prepare lunch by firing up the grill, roasting hot dogs, and lining up the food station.
Around 11 AM, we enjoyed a visit by the LV Phantoms mascot MeLVin. He interacted
with the Allen HS Canary and Salisbury HS Falcon mascots. Kids love the mascots!
Shortly thereafter, we were honored by a visit from Allentown Mayor Matt Tuerk. Mayor Tuerk visited several of the activity stations and seemed to have a good time interacting with the children. 
When the children returned from fun and games, Key Club members helped serve them
a picnic lunch of hot dogs (including meatless dogs), chips, fruit snacks, cookies and
pouch drinks. The children enjoyed their lunches and socializing with our volunteers. After
lunch, while waiting for their busses to arrive, the kids enjoyed seeing an Allentown Fire
Department truck up close, and speaking to the fire fighters. It was a perfect ending to a
perfect day! We would like to thank everyone from our club who made this event a huge success, including volunteers Keith Reynolds, Joyce Crosby, Deb Lamb, Enos & Susan Martin, Deirdre Govan, Jeff Burnatowski, Young Chang, Terry Kennedy, Vic Mazziotti, and Tom Harp. We are looking forward to an even bigger and better event next May!
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