It was an evening spent learning about what Glendon has to offer.
Around 14 organizations and clubs came out to share information on what they do and register residents during the annual Glendon Community Awareness and Registration Night at Glendon School on Wednesday, Sept. 11.
Organizer Rhonda Doonanco said the event has been a success since its inception in 2016.
“We came together three years ago with the Village of Glendon and Community Futures Lakeland, and through that workshop, we discovered that the best thing for this community was to come together with all the groups and have everybody work together with a registration night, and put this on for people to see what we have to offer,” she explained.
Along with meeting teachers during the school’s welcome back barbecue, parents could also make a stop at registration night to see what was available.
It was a one-stop-shop for attendees, who previously had to attend multiple registration evenings for various clubs children were interested in. There was something for everyone with tables ranging from sports and dance clubs to the local fire department.
One of the groups on-hand was the Lakeland Primary Care Network, a not-for-profit that works on filling the gaps in healthcare in rural communities.
“We came out to connect with the community, and… to show people what kind of services that we offer,” explained registered dietitian Jeanelle Richard with the Primary Care Network.
Along with sharing information about the group and the ways Primary Care Network supports parents and seniors in Glendon, Richard also taught people about sugar in popular beverages.
Hoping to add some new members to their ranks was the Glendon Agricultural Society.
“We came out to let the community know what we do, that we’re here, that people can join, become a member, and help out Glendon in any events that we do sponsor,” detailed director Andrea Wolosiewicz.
Along with the Glendon Derby and Mudbogs in August, Wolosiewicz said the ag society is wanting to offer more ways for people to get involved.
“We’re trying to do more things in the community to get people to come together as a community again, so it would nice to maybe have monthly (events). We’re trying to come up with different things to do.”
Attendee Katie Smyl took the opportunity to show her son the different ways he can get involved in extra-curriculars.
“It’s his first year of kindergarten. We came out to just check out everything and say ‘hi’ to the teachers. I graduated here, so I came out to see the school again, and check it all out,” she expressed.
As someone who grew up in the area, Smyl wasn’t surprised to see the Glendon Minor Hockey Association and the Glendon Shevchenko Ukrainian Dance Club had set-up tables. She took advantage of the other booths to learn about groups she hadn’t seen before, and the progress that’s been made over the years.
“The curling club now has grown, and it’s actually kind of neat seeing my old classmates who were set up as vendors.”
Plans are already in the works to keep the event going in the future.
“As long as somebody will take it over and keep it going, I hope that the succession of it will continue,” Doonanco expressed. “It’s a good working group that comes together and makes it happen.”
