Fallon Community Day offers slight twist this year

The annual Fallon Community Day will have a new twist for this year’s event, which is Saturday from 8 a.m. to noon at Oats Park.

The first Saturday in August provides an outreach to area residents as a jumpstart into the new school year that begins Aug. 20.

Holly Meader, project coordinator from the Churchill County Social Services Department and organizer for the event, said this year’s event will provide information from a number of vendors, but the clothes give away will be different.

Because of the number of clothes left over last year, Meader said vouchers for children’s clothing will be given to families who need them. Meader said the Out of Egypt Thrift Store will distribute the clothing. She said additional information will be included with each voucher.

“We had too many leftover clothes,” Meader said about last year’s clothing give away.

During past community days, the Oats Park Gym had boxes and aisles upon aisles of clothing on the floor and stage, much of it going unclaimed. Social Services received more clothes than it gave out, and Meader said the community’s thrift stores also have an abundance of good, clean clothing. As a result, she said a voucher system has been implemented.

Fallon Community Day has slowly grown over the years, attracting as many as 450-500 children and their parents. The children will receive numerous back-to-school items such as pencils, paper and backpacks. Meader said the community days event relies on the generosity of the vendors who participate and the first responders who hand out material and interact with the public.

This year, Meader said the New Frontier Treatment Center will provide free barbecue, children will be able to receive free haircuts and a bounce house and free swimming are available for some summer fun.

She said the Fallon Police Department, Nevada Highway Patrol and the Churchill County Sheriff’s Office, with its K9 handler, will attend the morning event, while the Fallon Churchill Volunteer Fire Department brings one of its engines.

Meader also said the community day gives vendors an opportunity to hand out material to educate the public about available services in the county.

The following entities are partners for the Fallon Community Day: City of Fallon, State of Nevada, New Frontier, Churchill Community Coalition, Churchill County, Fallon Chamber of Commerce and Fallon Community Resources.