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The North Ward Center’s Family Success Center in Newark celebrated Thanksgiving early with activities for parents and kids, and ended the night with a family-style feast.
About 35 parents and children attended the Nov. 17 event, where they worked together to decorate Thanksgiving wreaths, turkeys and door hangers.
“I was excited to come, I thought it was going to be a fun Thanksgiving party,” said 10 year-old Deandre.
Gloria Nieves, chair of the Family Success Center, presented a history of Thanksgiving in both English and Spanish. She shared the story of how the pilgrims sailed to America and held the first Thanksgiving harvest feast in 1621 with the Native Americans.
Parent Madeline Valle came out for Wednesday’s event with her three children. She explained that since she doesn’t have a car, the Family Success Center is an easy place to get to and from with her kids without having to take a cab.
“Everything I can do for them that’s free and educational, that’s what I do,” said Valle, who is also a Family Success Center advisory board member. “If this wasn’t an educational place for me and my kids to be together, then I would not be here. I know it’s safe, and they want to come.”
The North Ward Center’s programs have been a beneficial resource to Valle. She explained that her son has ADHD and sometimes acts out, but the Family Success Center staff is understanding and accepting of him.
“When I first found out about the Family Success Center I thought, ‘Wow I could better my education and get some help’,” she said. “They listened to me, and I started going to the Newark Business Training Institute taking a childcare course for six months. I also had difficulty keeping up with my PSE&G bill and they were able to help me.”
Vanessa Bohler, the director of the Family Success Center, said one of the center’s main initiatives is to make sure children have a life free of abuse and neglect. She added that the purpose of the activities is to build strong parent-child bonds and develop healthy relationships.
While many children are focused on video games and electronics, the center’s hands-on activities reinforce parent interaction and communication.
“We’ve had more incorporation of these events on a monthly basis because the children really look forward to them, and the parents have been asking if we could do more," Bohler said.
It’s also a way for parents to meet other parents in their community to build a bigger support system, Bohler said.
“The word is getting out in the community and we’re beginning to reach more and more families,” Bohler said. “Parents are excited and they’re telling their friends and neighbors. We’re definitely seeing positive growth as far as attendance.”
Michele Adubato, the executive director of The North Ward Center, said events like this help make families stronger.
“The Family Success Center is valuable resource for the community,” Adubato said. “We’re thrilled that families are able to take advantage of programs like this one.”
In total there are more than 100 parents and children participating in Family Success Center programs.
Wednesday’s festivities came to a close with a Thanksgiving dinner for all - complete with turkey, stuffing, sweet potatoes and more.
“This is the type of program that brings families and children together in the spirit of celebration around the holidays,” said Adrianne Davis, the co-founder of The North Ward Center.
