Wow what an adventure! The families that live on Toronto Avenue embraced the idea of hosting a Neighbourhood Block Party.
Being new to the neighbourhood, when I saw the opportunity to host a block party, I jumped at the idea. I started off with creating a basic budget and contacted my closest neighbourhood, KC, to be the co-applicant.
After being approved for the grant I picked a Sunday date in October and created a flyer. My son and I delivered the flyers to each home on Toronto Avenue plus nearby side streets of King Avenue, Penticton Avenue and Killarney Avenue.
I also created a Facebook page specifically for Toronto Avenue Residents; we will be posted to regularly to create communication between our neighbours.The flyer we delivered encouraged neighbours to contact me via a specific email.
Individual homeowners really stepped up to the plate!!
*Personally hosting the BBQ with hot dogs
* Volunteering to host the registration tent and taking pictures
*Hosted the coffee, hot chocolate and cake
*Our newest neighbours hosted some live entertainment in front of their house
*We had chalk art for everyone to be creative and had hop scotch squares for families to win a 2 for 1 Swim or Fitness pass from the Penticton Community Centre
*Popcorn station
*One of the neighbours made custom collectable bells for each household
*Helping with the pick up and delivery of the tables
We had an official cake cutting ceremony with many households posing for a group photo.
The energy was awesome all day long! It was a fantastic first time block party and know that the connection with the households will only grow. There was also conversations centred around other ideas to develop from this experience.
I want to thank the Community Foundation South Okanagan Similkameen, the Vancouver Foundation, and the City of Penticton for managing the grants plus thank you to the many partners who came on board for us: IGA Marketplace for matching $200 in food purchases, Murray’s Buick GMC for the use of their popcorn machine, City of Penticton Recreation Centre for the 2 for 1 coupons, Westminster Party Rentals for giving us a discount on table rentals, Staples for discounting the cost of coloured printed banner and Tim Horton’s for the discount on the coffee and hot chocolate.
Looking forward to see what we can host in the future!!
Share post:
