When Ossian Presbyterian Church began seriously considering closing its Ossian Community Center early this year, neighbors Robin and Bret Walker; and Mary and Dan Youngers decided they didn't want to see it go.
The Walkers and Youngers live on either side of the community center.
“We don’t want to look at an empty building,”?Robin Walker said. “So we stepped up to the plate.”
Robin and Mary are both stay-at-home moms, and have ran summer recreation at the center for the past three years. The Walkers and Youngers brought their list of ideas to the church council, and asked if they could have a go at being in charge of events at the community center.
The church gave its blessing, and since March, the two families have worked together to initiate programs to bring the community together and encourage families from neighboring towns to visit.
While there are few volunteers to make the center successful, “we have such willpower, and I think that’s what we thrive on is the teamwork and the willpower to make this community something,”?Mary Youngers said.
Their first programs were pancake breakfasts conducted this spring, “and they went over very well,” Walker said.
As they, as well as other families in the community, expressed the desire for a baseball diamond on premises, one of the families in the community donated their time, supplies and money to rebuild the baseball field.
"It just kept us motivated to want to do stuff to bring the community together,”?Walker said.
The summer rec program — with help from Linda and Tony Scavone, Cathy Saunders, Lisa Cuddeback, Staci Derrenbacher and George and JoEllen Smith — wrapped up Aug. 3. About 20 school-aged children attended.
The two-week program included a host of activities for school-aged kids, which included having made bird houses, marshmallow shooters and T-shirts; plus ended with its own brand of Olympic games and having had the chance to play inside JoEllen Smith's hot-air balloon envelope. Each child also received brand new sneakers on the last day.
Two days after the summer rec program ended, the center played host to a community-wide picnic. From 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Aug. 18, the center will host a large outdoor show. The Ossian Outdoor Show and Gun Raffle will include at least 40 vendors inside and out, plus seven guns and one bow which will be raffled off. Tickets for the raffle are $10 apiece. All proceeds will go to the Ossian Community Center.
The popular Ossian Hey Days and Outhouse Races is planned for another “run” Sept. 8. The Hey Days is an event sponsored by Ossian Prebyterian Church. Although it's still summer, the Walkers and Youngers are already brainstorming ideas for next year.
When Ossian Presbyterian Church began seriously considering closing its Ossian Community Center early this year, neighbors Robin and Bret Walker; and Mary and Dan Youngers decided they didn't want to see it go.
The Walkers and Youngers live on either side of the community center.
“We don’t want to look at an empty building,”?Robin Walker said. “So we stepped up to the plate.”
Robin and Mary are both stay-at-home moms, and have ran summer recreation at the center for the past three years. The Walkers and Youngers brought their list of ideas to the church council, and asked if they could have a go at being in charge of events at the community center.
The church gave its blessing, and since March, the two families have worked together to initiate programs to bring the community together and encourage families from neighboring towns to visit.
While there are few volunteers to make the center successful, “we have such willpower, and I think that’s what we thrive on is the teamwork and the willpower to make this community something,”?Mary Youngers said.
Their first programs were pancake breakfasts conducted this spring, “and they went over very well,” Walker said.
As they, as well as other families in the community, expressed the desire for a baseball diamond on premises, one of the families in the community donated their time, supplies and money to rebuild the baseball field.
"It just kept us motivated to want to do stuff to bring the community together,”?Walker said.
The summer rec program — with help from Linda and Tony Scavone, Cathy Saunders, Lisa Cuddeback, Staci Derrenbacher and George and JoEllen Smith — wrapped up Aug. 3. About 20 school-aged children attended.
The two-week program included a host of activities for school-aged kids, which included having made bird houses, marshmallow shooters and T-shirts; plus ended with its own brand of Olympic games and having had the chance to play inside JoEllen Smith's hot-air balloon envelope. Each child also received brand new sneakers on the last day.
Two days after the summer rec program ended, the center played host to a community-wide picnic. From 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Aug. 18, the center will host a large outdoor show. The Ossian Outdoor Show and Gun Raffle will include at least 40 vendors inside and out, plus seven guns and one bow which will be raffled off. Tickets for the raffle are $10 apiece. All proceeds will go to the Ossian Community Center.
The popular Ossian Hey Days and Outhouse Races is planned for another “run” Sept. 8. The Hey Days is an event sponsored by Ossian Prebyterian Church. Although it's still summer, the Walkers and Youngers are already brainstorming ideas for next year.
