Picture this: It’s the weekend. School is out. You need something fun to do to entertain the kids, but you aren’t trying to break the bank.
The first annual Block Party hosted by Westminster Neighborhood Services and Westminster St. Paul Neri Neighborhood could be just what you’re looking for.
A free event from 3-6 p.m. on June 7, the Block Party will have games, music, face painting, a bounce house and corn hole. The family-friendly event will be hosted in the parking lot of Westminster Neighborhood Services.
A food pantry and community center on the Near Eastside of Indianapolis, Westminster Neighborhood Services hosts similar free events throughout the year for local families. Keisha McKinney, communications manager for Westminster Neighborhood Services, hopes that the event will provide families with a fun weekend activity.
“The Block Party is something we want to do to bring the community together,” McKinney said. “We thought this was a way to create a fun and safe way for everyone to get together.”
In addition to the activities for children, the Block Party will also have free yoga provided by the Centers of Wellness for Urban Women and free food provided by the food truck, Thy Kingdom Crumb. Booths for local organizations like the IMPD and the fire department with a book mobile.
“I think this event means community. I think it means that we love our community,” McKinney said.
The party will be in the parking lot of the Westminster Neighborhood Services at 2325 E New York St. A family-friendly event, McKinney wants to maintain the goal of the party: to spread Eastside pride and encourage the spirit of community.
“We want everyone to feel safe and comfortable at this event,” McKinney said. “We are so prideful of the near Eastside … We just want everyone to come and have fun.”
McKinney is still looking for volunteers. For those interested in volunteering, visit westmin.org to learn more. For more information about the Block Party or the services offered by Westminster, visit their Facebook page to stay up to date.
Contact Staff Writer Hanna Rauworth at 317-762-7854 or follow her on Instagram at @hanna.rauworth.
Hanna Rauworth is the Health & Environmental Reporter for the Indianapolis Recorder Newspaper, where she covers topics at the intersection of public health, environmental issues, and community impact. With a commitment to storytelling that informs and empowers, she strives to highlight the challenges and solutions shaping the well-being of Indianapolis residents.
