OKMULKE, Oklv. – The morning was a surprisingly cool one as families began to gather for a day of fun at the Claude Cox Omniplex on July 19. The event, spearheaded by MCN Behavioral Health, had numerous games and events for people of all ages to enjoy, including a waterslide, which many of the kids in attendance enjoyed. In addition to the waterslide, the event included jewelry making, chalk art, and even a table for kids to draw. A Family Fun day in Wetumka was hosted the following week on July 26.
In addition to the many events for kids to enjoy, there were sports activities such as kickball. A group was also seen throwing around a football. Lunch was provided, with the main meal being pizza from Mazzios. With many people out to enjoy the day and the pavilion packed, it was clear that the event was a big success for MCN Behavioral Health.
When asked for comment, Thomasine Fife, one of the event organizers, had this to say. “Family Fun Day was an idea generated three years ago as a way to engage community members through outdoor activities, traditional arts and crafts, and provide resource information for families. This year, we provided educational materials on vaping prevention and 988 magnets. 988 is similar to 911. We call 911 for medical emergencies now. Well you can call 988 during a mental health emergency to be connected to a trained crisis counselor for assistance. This resource is available 24 hours/7 days a week like 911. This was Behavioral Health’s third year hosting Family Fun Days, and we look forward to providing more next summer. This year we hosted Okmulgee and Wetumka communities with over 150 attendees in Okmulgee and 82 in Wetumka. Despite the heat, we doubled the number of attendees in Okmulgee from last year. We provided lunch and an 18 ft water slide for the little ones to enjoy and stay cool. All in all, it was uplifting to see so many citizens attend and have fun. We are excited to continue with more similar events for our Mvskoke communities in the future!” Fife said.
Finally, many departments were out in order to spread awareness of their services and to give away free gifts to those in attendance. These tribal departments included the MCN Department of Health, Muscogee Nation Reintegration, and the Muscogee Nation Center for Victims Services (MCNCVS). All of these departments were in attendance to help make sure that all those who attended had a fun and memorable day.
