Summer Bash carnival set for July 11

STEUBENVILLE — The community is invited to gather for fun at the fifth-annual Special Connections Summer Bash Carnival on July 11.

Festivities will be held at the School of Bright Promise, which is located at 256 John Scott Highway in Steubenville from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. and will feature food, games, and a chance for people to come together. Special Connections, which is a collaboration between Jefferson County Board of Developmental Disabilities, Crossroads Christian Church, and the Special Needs Parents Support in the Ohio Valley Facebook page,has provided activities throughout each year to promote inclusion in a fun and exciting way.

Mindy Aleksiejczyk, co-founder of Special Connections, JCBDD president, and creator of the Special Needs Parents Support organization, said the free carnival has attracted about 150 people each year and the upcoming event will be bigger and better.

"We will be having better games and we have a different location this year that will make things more accessible," Aleksiejczyk added. "The purpose is to provide an event in our community that is inclusive where every ability can attend and enjoy with the whole family."

Special Connections obtained a 501 (c)(3) designation as a non-profit organization earlier this year, allowing it to obtain grants and donations to fund its events. In addition to the summer bash carnival, the group also hosts a sensory-friendly Santa activity at Christmastime and an inclusive Easter Egg hunt in the spring. Additionally, regular meetings with Arc of Ohio are held for families to learn about available programs and resources while younger individuals get to commune. With the non-profit classification, officials have been able to expand and enhance festivities.

Among the carnival's offerings are games, food, prizes, face painting, hair tinsel, Heart to Homestead with baby goats, Destiny Dog with their four-legged friends, and more. She continued that feedback has been positive and many families look forward to the festivities.

"We love for our community to come out and enjoy an event where everyone can have fun. We are excited about doing this again and even more excited it is our fifth year. We see so many families from our community come," she noted. "Families with all abilities are able to come out, relax and enjoy. This is an event that welcomes everyone and it is a safe place for families that often stay home. We love putting on these events and are happy to see attendance grow every year."

Cookie West, JCBDD community and public relations specialist and Special Connections board member, added that it was going to be a great time for all.

"We're hoping to see returning and new families and are excited to once again provide this event for all abilities and ages," West said. "This is for people to have a fun time and continue to build upon fun and shared experiences with their families and community. We are anticipating a large crowd to enjoy a nice event during the summer.

Kristina Gabel-Schroeder, children's director at Crossroads Christian Church in Wintersville and Special Connections board member, agreed that organizers were looking forward to planning activities for everyone to enjoy together.

"This is definitely going to be bigger and every year we've seen many people attend," Gabel-Schroeder concluded. "Seeing how far we've come over the past five years is amazing. We're excited at Crossroads Christian Church to be a partner and not only bring another event to the community, but an event where everybody belongs."

For more information, contact Aleksiejczyk at (740) 457-9941 or email SpecialConnections@gmail.com.