Moncton summer program finds success in the park
The Community Family Services program in Moncton, NB – under the direction of Natasha Burkett – decided it was time to switch things up this summer. With the goal of connecting with the community in which it operates, Moncton CFS began canvassing the neighborhood to pique interest and gain an understanding of what was needed.
“In the past, we had one week of vacation bible school and another week of teen outreach, ,” Burkett says. “This year, we decided that we would try taking The Salvation Army out to the community instead of asking the community to come to us. It was a huge success.”
Burkett chose Lewis Street Park, located just a block away from the CFS office in inner-city Moncton because it was an area that had previously been neglected. The park itself was no longer on the regular maintenance schedule and was hardly ever used. Burkett chose Wednesday afternoons as her time, and kicked off the 8-week Lewis Street Park Ministry with a total of 51 attendees – 32 children and 19 parents.
The next week, Burkett and her team had a surprise waiting for them when they arrived: numerous people were already there, waiting for their arrival.
“It’s amazing to see a community come together the way it did. Every Wednesday, rain or shine, folks were waiting for us when we arrived to help us set up, and they stuck around afterwards to help us clean up,” Burkett explains. “For the first time in many years, something positive and safe was happening in the community, and that’s huge in any community but especially this one.”
While not a vacation bible school as it was designed for all ages, the program included Bible study time and a unique weekly theme and everyone was treated to one healthy snack at the park and another to take home. With the help of two summer students and a group of dedicated volunteers, the Lewis Street Park Ministry raised awareness of what The Salvation Army has to offer its community, while giving families a safe place to grow as a community.
On the last Wednesday of the program, Burkett and her team held a Carnival Day for the entire community, attracting more than 225 kids, teens and parents for a barbeque, games and a giant bouncy castle.
“We actually had two lines for the bouncy castle,” Burkett says. “One line was for adults and the other for the kids. I’m not sure who enjoyed it more.”
Moncton Community and Family Services is located at 32 King Street, Moncton, and runs a multitude of programs all-year-round. Though the Lewis Street Park Ministry has wrapped up for this year, Burkett and her team are looking to summer 2014 already.
“I’m hoping that we can run this program again next year,” Burkett says. “It was such a blessing to be a part of the lives of those in our community for the summer. It’s the coolest thing I’ve ever done.”
