WILKES-BARRE, LUZERNE COUNTY (WBRE/WYOU) — A local event wrapped up on Saturday to raise money for abused and neglected children. NEPA's Summer In The City celebrated its Second Annual Day Downtown in Wilkes-Barre.
The fundraising festival started Saturday morning and continued until 8:00 p.m. It featured something for everyone.
Food trucks, small businesses, and carnival games brought plenty of people to Public Square on Saturday for NEPA's Day Downtown.
The event is hosted by Summer In The City. The organization run by students encourages them to have a hand in planning the event that draws so many.
"That's a reflection of the work we're doing and the effort the kids are putting into it as we're giving them that platform for them to really shine and not just do it for the resume building and for the lessons and the workshops, but rather because we're seeing them care about the community and want to plan events like this," NEPA's Summer in the City Programming Director Paul Stevenson told 28/22 News.
This year, the event is raising funds for Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA) of Wyoming Valley. The non-profit trains advocates to stand up for children facing abuse or neglect in the court system.
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Along with the fundraising, organizers say community engagement is at the heart of the event.
"Getting the community engaged is finding those things that make everyone united, finding those things that everyone can share together regardless of your talent or your ability or what you enjoy," NEPA's Summer in the City Community Engagement Director Faith Stoshak stated.
The booths included face painting, craft making, raffles, and more.
One vendor showcasing his artwork tells us the event is refreshing to be a part of.
"The energy here is amazing, you have so many people with beautiful smiles, people that you don't even know come up and talk to you, and I love that. So, it's a nice place where everyone can come together," Gear2Art Artist Javon Scrutchins explained.
Kids in the Summer In The City program are not only able to build event-planning skills, but also can leave the event with a sense of pride in their hard work.
"We hope they walk away seeing that no matter how old they are, no matter where they feel they fall in the community, they can make a difference, and we're seeing that from our program, and we're really happy to say we are," Stevenson added.
Summer In The City is looking forward to opening their program to more kids from high schools like Wyoming Seminary and universities like King's College to make next year's Day Downtown even better.
