Long Branch concordance to host annual mini-fair

Long Branch Concordance to host annual mini-fair
BY KEN WALTER Staff Writer

LONG BRANCH — The Long Branch Concordance with host its second annual mini-fair on April 4.

"School's Out for Summer, Now What?" will be held from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. in the lobby of the Garfield Grant building at 279 Broadway, where the concordance office is located, at the corner of Broadway and Fifth Avenue.

The fair will be attended by local organizations, which will set up tables and hold registration for summer activities for local children and teens.

Representatives of different programs, camps, events and child-care resources will be present.
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"We act as the middleman in all of this," Long Branch Concordance Outreach Director Emma Cabãn said. "Last year we had close to 200 kids come out, and we hope to have more this year."

Currently, organizations committed to appear at the fair include the YMCA, the Prevention First Coalition of Monmouth County and the Long Branch Public Library.

"We also will have balloons on the door so people know where it is," Cabãn said. "We will have snacks and kids' drinks, too. Also, there will be face painting and different arts and crafts projects. It won't just be signing up for summer activities."

While many of the organizations will target smaller children, there will be some choices for teenagers as well.

"The YMCA and Kingdom's Fighter Gear probably attract the teenagers," Cabãn said. "They have a lot of programs and services that would attract the teenagers."

The Long Branch Concordance is a nonprofit agency established in 2004. According to a press release, the concordance works to improve the lives of families in the surrounding area by finding resources for people in need, fostering individual and family development and creating partnerships for community well-being.

The concordance has advertised extensively for this event with the hope of increasing the turnout this year.

"We have let a lot of organizations know about the event," Cabãn said. "We have also put out fliers around town and let all of the families know about it."

Area students may also enter the poster contest during the fair.

The contest runs until Aug. 7 and the winning 12 posters will be made into the 2010 calendar.

"The winning 12 posters will go up on our website and will be on the calendar we give out to families," Cabãn said.

There is no registration needed for children to attend the event. For more information, visit the website at http://www.lbc4help.org/ or call 732-571- 1670.

Contact Ken Walter at kwalter@gmnews.com.