MANSFIELD — Although the summer hasn’t been ideal in terms of kids developing more social skills, there are still opportunities for fun and using imagination.
Little Buckeye Children’s Museum, partnering with several other organizations, created activity bags for children through the North End Community Improvement Collaborative (NECIC).
“We wanted to make sure we give children an opportunity to play this summer. So we put together what we’re calling ‘Buckeye Bags,’” said Fred Boll, executive director of Little Buckeye.
This year, the Richland County Foundation raised $44,556 for Summer Time Kids grants, including the Little Helpers program — a collaboration between the NECIC and Little Buckeye. Boll originally planned on giving away free passes to the NECIC for kids to come and enjoy the museum. Due to COVID-19, however, he had to rework his initiative and work with Deanna West-Torrence, founder and executive director of the NECIC.
“We take into consideration a lot of grant applications and we try to highlight those that have the most innovative and unique opportunities for (kids),” said Siera Marth, community investment officer at the Richland County Foundation. “And we also try to keep in mind the different communities and needs that the different kids are going to have as they’re looking for some opportunities.”
Along with adding in some fun items of their own to the bags—including frisbees, chalk, bubbles, crayons and more—Little Buckeye Children’s Museum also received donations from the Mansfield Library, Richland Bank and Richland Carrousel.
Over 175 bags were made and distributed to the NECIC for one family each. The bags include 10 to 15 items that can be used for outside play and encouraging children to use their imagination. The NECIC will began distributing bags to families starting on Aug. 20.
Though Little Buckeye remains closed, Boll is excited to be able to help out a population and provide activities for child development.
“We’re just really honored to be able to help out the (NECIC), because a lot of the kids that are going to get these bags are kids that would have challenges in acquiring the stuff that’s in the bags or they have financial challenges,” Boll said.
