Several Friday After Five committee members Thursday afternoon, while standing in the bright sunshine, formally presented a $1,000 check to the Mahaska County YMCA for the work Educare members performed during Friday After Five events this summer.

Mahaska County YMCA CEO Aaron Phillips said the money would go toward the Y’s Strong Kids Campaign.

“Which helps scholarship and subsidizes our programs at the YMCA,” Phillips said.

Debbie Cummings, Mahaska County YMCA Educare/Preschool director, said a whole host of people participated in the planning and coordination of the children’s activities.

“I coordinated it, but I have to say my staff really took it over and they were there everyday,” Cummings said. “And Connie Kime was kind of the leader of that and she volunteered her time and several of our staff members did that on their own.”

Other volunteers include Betty Stoddard, Kime’s husband Steve, Donna Mateer, Jennifer Baker, Amanda Nikkel, Danny Fuller, Brittany Osborn, Laura Doolan and Julianna Fash.

“The YMCA Staff members enjoyed the atmosphere and the smiles on the children’s faces while they worked on their crafts,” Cummings said. “We loved being out in the community and keeping the spirit of the Y alive at Friday After Five.”

Todd Roach, representing the Friday After Five committee, said Educare was a great help providing different children’s craft activities during the five Friday After Five events. Friday After Five just finished its fifth year and offers outdoor fun in front of the courthouse.

“We have a band, we have a beverage garden, we have activities for kids,” Roach said. “So it’s to get people out in the beginning of summer, enjoy time downtown and see their friends and hang out and have a good time.”

Besides donating to the YMCA, Friday After Five’s donations for 2008 total more than $8,000 and include $1,000 for Kidtoberfest to be held Oct. 11 at Penn Central Mall, $1,000 for the Mahaska Health Partnership Hospice House, $1,500 to the Mahaska County Recreation Foundation, $1,500 for landscaping and brick work around the Oskaloosa sign on Highway 163 and two, $750 scholarships as part of the OACDG scholarship fund.

“Giving to programs that support the community and enhance life for families here is important to us because that’s what we are trying to do with our event,” Friday After Five committee member Mark Stek said in the October Communicator.

Herald City Editor Michael Schaffer can be reached by email at mschaffer@oskyherald.com