By Eric Stock
BLOOMINGTON – A summer tradition is back in Bloomington at one of the city’s oldest institutions.
First Christian Church at 401 W. Jefferson St. is hosting the 17th annual west side block party that it is sponsoring with five other churches on Aug. 8 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.
“First Christian Church chooses to be in this neighborhood – we’ve been here for 175 years, and we continue to reach out to our neighborhood,” co-chair Julie Robinson said. “It’s important that we let our neighbors know we’re here for them and that the community knows we’re here for our neighborhood.”
The block party will include health screenings, food, games and entertainment. Dentists will provide free student exams while the Home Sweet Home health bus will offer free adult health screenings and Bloomington-Normal audiology will offer tips on ear care.
All children grades K-through-8 can pick up a free school kit and there will be two bicycle raffles.
“Our current average cost for a school kit is $31, and for some people with several children, that’s a lot of money,” Robinson noted. “Our school kit is very basic, but we do try to follow District 87’s supply list and try to get as much as possible into that school kit. We won’t turn anyone away – we will get a school kit for everyone. Obviously, we want everyone to get here early, but we will make sure that everybody gets some school supplies.”
Over the past four years, the block party has handed out about 4,000 kits to students.
The other sponsoring churches are Trinity Lutheran Church, Second Presbyterian Church, Centennial Christian Church, Holy Trinity Catholic Church and Historic St. Patrick Catholic Church.
Eric Stock can be reached at [email protected].
