Donations Sought For Underhill Park Carnival In/Around: East Central

Underhill Park is wrapping up its summer activities program with a penny carnival, but it needs donations to do it right.

“I understand that people don’t like getting (hit) up for money all the time, but this is for the kids,” said Arlene Miller, one of two park leaders at Underhill.

The carnival, scheduled for next Thursday from 6 to 8 p.m., will have a slew of activities that cost a penny or two each. Game winners will receive tickets they can use to purchase prizes.

Miller is looking for donated prizes or money to buy the gifts, such as crayons, markers, paints, water bottles, dolls, action figures or even small television sets and bicycles. Miller said the idea is to give the children, many of whom are disadvantaged, items they otherwise might not get.

“This is our end-of-the-summer celebration, and it would be nice for the kids to go home with something,” she said.

The 20-acre park, one of 17 city parks that offer summer activities programs, is located at Hartson and Fiske and serves the East Central neighborhood.

During the summer, neighborhood children can participate in supervised activities, such as T-ball, nature hiking, kite flying and painting.

Programs run 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. weekdays.

Sponsored field trips are scheduled once a week to roller rinks and bowling alleys, places where the kids might not normally visit. Children can also get free breakfasts and lunches at the park through the Spokane School District’s summer meals program.

“It’s a place where they can stay off the streets, keep out of trouble and have fun,” Miller said. “And this program teaches skills that help them mature into positive, productive adults.”

The park has raised about $20 for the carnival so far by selling pop, but it needs at least $150 to provide enough prizes, Miller said.

Miller said she’ll need to receive donations by Wednesday.

To donate, or to receive more information, call Miller at 363-5445.