And A Great Time Was Had By All!

There was a buzz in the air. Call it excitement. Or maybe it was the smell of cotton candy and popcorn drifting through the parking lot. Whatever it was, one thing was certain..our community showed up.

Guests enjoyed delicious food, games, a bounce house, face painting, free clothing, and plenty of treats. A special thank you to J&M Water Ice and Walnut Street Deli, owned by Jamiel Cottman and operated by JaLea Cottman and Jazzmin Jackson, for providing the water ice, soft pretzels, cotton candy, and popcorn that brought many smiles to the day. And, of course, we can’t forget our own grill masters, Jason and Elizabeth Kea, who kept everyone well-fed with freshly cooked chicken, burgers, and hot dogs.

Thanks to our incredible volunteers, our parking lot was transformed into a place that felt more like a family reunion than an event. And with everything offered free of charge, families were able to relax, have fun, and connect without worrying about the cost.

At Chester Eastside, that’s what community is all about: creating spaces where people feel seen, valued, and supported.

We are incredibly grateful to our volunteers, staff members, community partners, and everyone who attended and helped make the day such a success.

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Meanwhile…

Six days each week people experiencing food insecurity continue to come to our Open Cupboard food pantry and Open Table hot meals program. The number of people and meals we serve continue to rise…