By Amanda Ensinger
Staff Writer
The Prairie Township Community Center has some big activities planned, including growing the number of community members who visit the center and giving back to the community.
At a recent board meeting, the community kicked off this initiative by asking the trustees to approve $4,600 to mail approximately 30,000 community center promotional mailers to residents in the area codes 43228, 43026 and 43119.
The community center also recently worked with the Mid-Ohio Foodbank on collecting perishable food for those in need.
“We did this around the holidays and had the food drive from around Thanksgiving until the New Year’s Day,” said James Gant, director of the community center. “In total, we collected 10 boxes of food and were pleased we could be a positive influence on the community. We hope to continue to do this every year.”
In addition, several events are coming up at the center.
“We are bringing back the Father/ Daughter Date Night event and the Mother/Son Adventure Night,” Gant said. “We had such a positive response to these events last year that we decided to host them again this year.”
The Father/Daughter Date Night will take place from 6 to 8 p.m. Feb. 3 at the community center. The event costs $25 per couple and $10 per additional child and will feature arts and crafts, dancing and other entertainment. A keepsake photo will also be given to all families.
“Last year we had approximately 24 couples and this year we hope to have just as strong of a turnout,” Gant said.
The Mother/Son Adventure Night will take place from 6 to 8 p.m. April 7. The event costs $25 per couple and $10 per additional child and will feature nerf wars, games and other activities in the community center gym. Dinner will also be provided at both events.
Gant said the center has also seen an increase in members with the new year.
“People want to start the new year off right with a healthy lifestyle,” Gant said. “We have already had about 150 new members this year, which is very exciting.”
Gant said people are already favorably responding to the new monthly membership rates at the community center as well.
“People seem to really like being able to use our facilities during the cold weather right now and then have the option to continue their exercises outside when the weather gets warm,” Gant said. “This new option is allowing us to attract new members we weren’t reaching before.”
For more information on the Prairie Township Community Center, visit www.prairietownship.org.
