Block party spreads joy

By Steve DeVane

BR Managing Editor

Sara McDonald, also known as Chuckles, hands a balloon animal to a child at a block party.

Photo by Steve DeVane

Biblical Recorder

FAYETTEVILLE - Operation Inasmuch, the one-day community mission blitz, is known for construction projects that make livable homes for numerous people.

Sara McDonald, a member of Snyder Memorial Baptist Church, has helped with those efforts during two previous Inasmuch efforts, doing yard work and painting. On April 19, she took on her clown persona, Chuckles, to make children happy at a block party a few blocks from multiple construction projects.

"I guess I did a little painting this morning," McDonald said, pointing toward her made-up face.

Many small children approached McDonald at the block party. She made balloon animals for them.

McDonald said most kids liked her, but she realized some were a little afraid of clowns.

"I just try to steer clear and smile from a distance," she said.

A short distance away, about 15 young people gathered around a dunking booth, hoping to make 13-year-old David Staley take a splash.

Staley, from Faymont Baptist Church, playfully taunted those throwing a ball at a nearby target. He didn't even seem to mind when they hit it, causing a seat to fall out from under him and sending him into the tank of water.

Nearby, another group of kids were watching skits performed by a puppet team from Campground United Methodist Church.

Across the playground, volunteers from Northwood Temple, a Pentecostal Holiness church, were serving hot dogs.

A team from First Presbyterian Church was conducting blood pressure checks.

Members of a home-school Key Club were painting decorations on faces.

Lauren Terry and Evelyn Nordhaugen, members at Snyder, served cotton candy for more than two hours.

"Kids love cotton candy," Terry said.