LIMA — Nicole Nichols attended the Lima’s Day of Peace event held Saturday at Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Center Park enjoying the sun, games and food with her nephew and niece.
Not only was it something to do but the free giveaway of backpacks and school supplies means one more bill she does not have to pay.
“This is going to help me out to have school supplies for them for school,” Nichols said. “Programs like this help out the community a whole lot. It really does.”
The event’s founder, Tamesha Bingham, organized it for the third year to honor the life of her father, Elmer Maurice Cunningham Sr., who died in 2009. Although she lives out of state today, she returns to Lima where most of her family lives to hold the event, she said.
“I wanted to do something positive in his memory. The long-term goal is to develop scholarship funds to send kids to college,” she said.
The event not only has a school supply giveaway but there was face painting and games such as tug of war and sack races. There also was plenty of food to go around cooked on the grill and uplifting music playing.
“We are just trying to bring the community together in a positive way and to uplift the youth to give them the tools they need.”
The backpacks and school supplies were purchased with the help of numerous donations made by people and local businesses, Bingham said.
While the events seem to cater to young children, it is open for all ages and parents. Bingham said she expected to have 200 people stop by in four hours.
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