It was a week of fun and faith at First United Church of Oak Park, 848 Lake St., where the weeklong SCARF (Spirituality, Crafts, Arts, Reflection and Fun) program concluded Friday. This was the first year for an event of this type at the church, said Julie O’Shea, co-organizer of the program. The church wanted to do something fun for children other than the standard summer camp activities.
Ten volunteer adults from the First United community in Oak Park participated, along with 28 kids from the Oak Park area, first through eighth grades, who were taught drumming, folk and spiritual dancing, and participated in art projects. The kids also baked bread, brownies and made black bean soup for homeless PADS clients, whom the church shelters weekly.
Instructors included Lincoln Elementary School art teacher Paul Jacobson. The church also brought in Heather White Godfrey, a dance and instructor from New York, to work with students. O’Shea, who taught the kids how the play the wind chimes, said the program was a success and the church is looking forward to doing it again next year. First United’s Marylen Marty-Gentile, who was unavailable for comment, coordinated SCARF.
-Terry Dean
