WAVERLY — Kids enjoyed Wonka bars, golden eggs and lickable wallpaper at the Waverly Comm’s annual Family Valentine’s Party on Feb. 8. This year’s theme was Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory and participants had a golden ticket to play theme-filled activities inside the Comm’s gymnasium. The auditorium was decorated with lollipops and picket fences and there were tables with jars of “everlasting gobstoppers.”
Volunteers from the Abington Heights Interactive Club and National Honors Society let kids have fun with the games, arts and crafts and even a candy store. Interactive Club students Ava Ramsey, Keya Patel and Molly Lindaman aided kids in playing Golden Egg Matching, in which kids looked inside two golden eggs, seeking matching pictures inside them.
“I like the theme because it’s so festive and fun,” said Patel.
“It’s a good opportunity for the kids in the community,” added Ramsey.
Students from the club also taught kids how to make lollipops out of canvas straws and paper.
“I love to see the kids and the smiles on their faces,” said Ellie Saunders, who manned this station with fellow club member Julia Braatz.
Nine-year-old Ryan Clegg, of Clarks Summit, enjoyed Oompa Loompa bowling.
“I like the bowling because you can bend your knees and it’s challenging,” he said.
National Honor Society students Makenzie Allred and Sean Kane watched the kids attempt to knock down 10 pins with Oompa Loompas from the 2005 “Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory” movie.
Spencer Dana, also from the National Honor Society, spun kids around as they attempted to play a game similar to Pin the Tail on the Donkey. But this time, it was Put the Gum Behind Violet’s Ear. Participants closed their eyes while spinning to attempt to stick pretend gum on a picture of the girl who turned into a giant blueberry. The spinning and eye closing didn’t throw off 6-year-old Adalie Hoenie, of South Abington Twp., who got the gum right on Violet’s ear on her first try.
“I love it,” she said about the party.
Adalie also takes dance classes at the Comm.
Outside the gymnasium, Jenna Hillebrand, a National Honor Society student, took pictures of parents and children wearing sunglasses while standing behind the Wonka Vision.
It’s fun,” said Hillebrand. “I usually work here for service hours.”
The event also served as a collection for non-perishable food items, which will be donated to the United Neighborhood Centers. Comm Kids will have a winter fundraiser featuring Rosario’s Pizza. Anyone who presents the flyer for dine-in or takeout orders from Feb. 24-27 will see 20% of their purchase go to Comm Kids.
