Richland County community leaders partner with Serve & Connect on Summer of Healing event
On July 23, 2022, Serve & Connect enjoyed an amazing community-wide event with nearly a dozen community partners. Everyone came out to the Summer of Healing block party to enjoy an opportunity to meet local law enforcement officers and first responders and build community camaraderie. All of our partners in Richland County did an incredible job hosting the event. A big thank you to everyone who came out and helped make the 2022 Richland County Summer of Healing event a huge success, especially Petersen Presbyterian Church who welcomed the event at their church. We accomplish so much when we work together. Our partnerships make our community stronger and for that we are grateful.
Some highlights among many from the event included:
Forest Lake Presbyterian led the yard games including cornhole and giant Jenga. Children also enjoyed an arts and crafts station which included kindness rocks.
South Carolina Department of Natural Resources were masters on the grill and cooked hot dogs for the community to enjoy.
Be Beep sponsored glitter tattoos that all the children loved.
Baskin Robbins gave away free scoops of ice cream for a cool treat on a hot summer day.
Richland County Recreation Commission sponsored a bounce house and basketball.
Forest Acres Police Department led officer games and bingo which were a big hit.
Richland County Sheriffs Department brought their DARE car and the kids thought that was super cool.
Columbia Fire Department brought out their truck and put the giant ladder out!
Richland Two School District assisted with games and we were all impressed how many principals and educators came out.
“This was exactly what we all needed. I look forward to more events.”
Event partners included:
Heal America
Forest Acres Police Department
Forest Lake Presbyterian Church
Richland County Sheriff’s Department
South Carolina Department of Natural Resources
Columbia Fire Department
South Carolina Department of Mental Health
PASOs
LRADAC
Baskin-Robbins
Richland County Recreation Commission
Richland School District Two
More than 120 community members attended the event.
“We had a blast! The block party gave us an excuse and a safe way to meet neighbors that we do not know and to give freely (without a desired outcome).” - Event attendee
“The block party happened only about a mile from my house, but the experience helped connect me to neighborhoods that are vastly different from my own, and to meet neighbors that I would not normally meet. The block party was only a mile from my house, but many, many, many miles removed from my experience of life.” - Event attendee
“The block party gave me hope. Seeing our police partners engage children in games, crafts, and just plain fun feels good and right. Seeing our congregation’s members leave the security of our church property to meet our neighbors where they live also feels right and good. The Church is called to go into the world to be good news, but most of the time we spend our energy trying to get people to come to us and be like us. This felt like real church.” - Rev. Dr. Ellen Skidmore, Forest Lake Presbyterian Church
