The October Event for Edison Gardens was held bright and early on Saturday, October 14, at Crooked Creek Ranch in Wakarusa! We had 9 children from Edison Gardens, more than 30 volunteers from 2nd Saturday, and GCC’s OPA Team join us!! Thank you to everyone who spent Saturday morning at the Ranch!!!

Our group was welcomed with Krispy Kreme doughnuts, hot chocolate, coffee, and Sunny D! Then we spent time playing on the beautiful new playground; riding horses and bicycles; exploring the Ranch’s trails, donkeys, and ducks; and enjoying Cindy’s tractor, and tractor basketball, rides. Our Event concluded with a performance by GCC’s OPA Team, pumpkins, and Halloween treat bags for every child. Even though it was a crisp, fall morning; we were blessed with good weather and an abundance of Son Shine! Thank you, Cindy, for allowing our group to use your Ranch, and playgrounds, to bring God’s children closer to nature and to Him!

Singing and Dancing with OPA

The September Event for Edison Gardens was held on Sunday, September 17! We had 19 residents from Edison Gardens join us!! Thank you to everyone who spent a warm and sunny, Sunday afternoon at Tree-Mendus Fruit Farm in Eau Claire, Michigan!!!

The children enjoyed a tractor ride into the fruit orchards; with our tour guide, Lynne Sage, sharing with us the way God speaks to her through everyday things at the Farm. Lynne also made stops along the way so the children could pick different leaves from the fruit trees, and they were even able to break several branches off a sassafras tree to smell the pleasant aroma! Everyone was able to pick a bag of apples to bring home, and was given an apple pencil, compliments of Tree-Mendus Fruit Farm. We concluded our visit with a picnic lunch, playground activities, and a visit with the small farm animals!

We ended our visit to Tree-Mendus Fruit with a picnic lunch, playground rides, and a visit with the animals! 

The apples are so yummy!


 

A Beautiful View from the Top of the Orchards
Enjoying the Wagon Ride!

Learning About the Different Leaves on Fruit Trees at Tree-Mendus Fruit Farm in Eau Claire, Michigan
 

Where did those extra arms come from?!
 

The August Event for Edison Gardens was held on Saturday, August 12! We had 12 children join us!!

The children enjoyed a sunny afternoon with playground activities, balloon creations, and a fried chicken lunch! All children in Kindergarten through 6th grade were also able to pick up a new back-pack for school, in coordination with the Housing Authority of South Bend. In addition to back-packs, each family at Edison Gardens received a box of food, and a box of personal care items, from the coordinated efforts of GCC and Feed the Children. The families were truly thankful for the generosity that was extended to them.