The Eastside Pathways community launch at the June 23-24 Bellevue Strawberry Festival was a success!
Over 400 children, youth and families participated in the scavenger hunt activity visiting the four areas of the EP booth (EP/Community Engagement, Early Learning, Youth Programs, Let’s Read) as well as four partner booths (Youth Eastside Services, City of Bellevue, Eastside Heritage Center, and Bellevue Schools Foundation). We gave away nearly 2000 books to those completing the scavenger hunt.
“Parents and grandparents were delighted to come upon Play Doh, sand, and water their children could play with—even those whose toddlers wouldn’t leave!” –Paula Steinke, Child Care Resources.
Our thanks to the partners and volunteers who worked on this event.
In addition, thanks go to the Eastside Heritage Center for allowing us to work “outside the box” and host a 4-tent booth featuring multiple partners and activities, and for supporting our scavenger hunt by merging their previous activity with ours.
Thank you to the City of Bellevue and to the Bellevue City Council for proclaiming June 23, 2012 “Eastside Pathways Day”. An extra special thanks goes out to Bellevue Mayor Conrad Lee who came to deliver the proclamation on Saturday…only to find EP rained out and closed up. He cheerfully returned on Sunday to deliver the honors!
Survey feedback from the partners and volunteers who participated in the event indicate that:
- 100 % strongly agree/agree recommend that EP do this event again next year.
- 7% strongly agree/agree that participating at the Eastside Pathways booth at the Strawberry Festival was a good use of their organization’s time. 8.3% were neutral.
One survey participant said about the things she or he liked best about participating on the Eastside Pathways booth were: “The energized adults working toward a common mission.”
For more photos see this slide show.
Written by Susan Sullivan, Eastside Pathways Board Member.