Ninth Annual Little Folks Celebration

Many Community Partners Join
Ninth Annual Little Folks Festival

Stokes Partnership for Children (SPC) will be celebrating the national Week of the Young Children with the presentation of the ninth annual Little Folks Festival scheduled for Saturday, April 17, 2010 at Walnut Cove Elementary School, from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. This fun filled event focuses on the promotion of early care and education, school readiness, family support and health as it relates to young children and their families. Parents will be able to learn about the wide variety of available resources in Stokes County by visiting information booths of local agencies serving Stokes County. Local businesses offering enrichment programs for children will be showcasing their services and providing information as to how children can get involved.

SPC partnered with East Stokes Outreach Ministries and the Town of Walnut Cove to promote the event and to acknowledge the importance of the welfare of Stokes County’s young children and families. According to SPC Executive Director, Cindy S. Tuttle, “Marchelle Brown, Director of East Stokes Outreach Ministry contacted SPC concerned that many of the families that visit the ministry are unaware of the available services in Stokes County. In light of this, she asked to partner with SPC to present the Little Folks Festival in order to help spread the word regarding available programs and services that are in Stokes County. Town officials of Walnut Cove joined her and were also interested in offering support. One way the town did this was by putting information about the event in the town’s water bills. John Hodgkin, Mayor of Walnut Cove issued an official proclamation supporting the national Week of the Young Child. We are very pleased to have their support.”

Other partners will include the Stokes Family Health Center and Healthy Carolinians of Stokes who will sponsor the Healthy Baby and Maternity Fair, along with the Stokes Family YMCA who will sponsor the YMCA Healthy Kids’ Day. To top it off, Once Upon a Blue Ridge will offer interactive activities featuring drama and music for children, sponsored by the Stokes County Arts Council. “Folks are going to love our event this year,” said Cindy Tuttle. “We are excited to have so many community partners. There will be so much to do!”

Kids can also look forward to indoor and outdoor fun activities, including an inflatable slide, moon walk and obstacle course, costume characters, arts, crafts, music, free books, prizes, games, face painting, children’s storytelling and more. Children will be able to climb on board a big yellow school bus and visit actual school classrooms. All children under the age of twelve in attendance will receive a free book. Drawings will be held for exciting door prizes just for young children. The Knights of Columbus, Good Shepherd Council will provide hot dogs and hamburgers for lunch. Drinks and other treats will be served. The best part of the Little Folks Festival is that all this fun is FREE! Donations will be accepted. Funding for this event is provided through Stokes Partnership for Children’s annual fund drive and private donations. For more information or to make a donation call 336-985-2676 or visit www.stokespfc.com.