Gary students and parents got a jump start on their two-week winter break Dec. 19 at a Holiday Help Fair sponsored by the Gary Community School Corp.
Kids engaged in hands-on STEM projects, such as building a pyramid slingshot, sponsored by Scouting America, while their parents sought out job and mentoring resources or learned different aspects of home ownership, including how to make a down payment.
Several organizations, from the Gary Literacy Coalition to the Gary Public Transit Corp., took part in the afternoon event at the Gary Public Library’s main branch.
“They have really good community events, and we got three books,” said Latrice Farmer, whose home-schooled children enjoyed making a pyramid.
Kandice Holman, a 2025 Eagle Scout from Gary, and Kellauna Mack, of Scouting America, assisted the kids with the project. Other projects included understanding air pressure by inflating a balloon and coding with color.
Jessica Hughes said her children, who attend Beveridge Elementary, enjoy crafts and science projects.
Lori Kuykendall, director of the Gary Literacy Coalition, passed out books to children and answered their questions as they crowded around her table.
“She likes to read,” Deja Dixon said of her daughter Deja James, 8, a student at Banneker at Marquette Elementary.
“I’m glad they’re out of school and we can get into the holiday spirit,” she said.
In addition, the district held a uniform exchange in which parents earned points for turning in used uniforms their kids have outgrown. At the fair, they used the points for used uniforms in a larger size and better condition.
Volunteers Jessica Fullilove, the Family and Community Engagement liaison at the West Side Leadership Academy, and Tashema Dancy, a City Connects site coordinator at Banneker at Marquette, helped parents find the right sizes.
“It’s been wonderful today,” said Fullilove of the clothing that switched hands.
Carole Carlson is a freelance reporter for the Post-Tribune.
