'We're better together': Faith and fun unite at inaugural Massey Hill Fun Day
Dozens of Massey Hill residents gathered for food, faith and festivities at the Massey Hill Recreation Center Saturday for the inaugural Massey Hill Fun Day.
The free event, sponsored by Fayetteville's New Hope Gospel Ministries and The Life Center, ran from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. and featured two live DJs.
Volunteers handed out free food and drinks, including hamburgers and hot dogs fresh from the grill. The event also hosted a variety of games and activities for attendees of all ages to enjoy, including a Mickey Mouse-themed bounce house and face painting.
Representatives from the Fayetteville Police Department offered ice cream and information on community safety, while members of the Fayetteville Fire Department encouraged residents to take pictures with a fire truck and a firefighter helmet.
"We've been in the community a while doing outreach," said Apostle Georgia Walker from New Hope Gospel Ministries. "The Lord just laid it upon my heart to do this."
Walker and her husband, Pastor Jesse Walker, collaborated with Pastors Sharrean McCrimmon and Reggie McCrimmon of The Life Center to establish Massey Hill Fun Day, which they plan to make an annual occurrence.
"Our vision is to be in the community and bring the love of God out of the house of God into the streets," Walker said.
Georgia Walker also highlighted the participation of Fathers Forever, an organization that started 14 years ago with the goal of helping incarcerated fathers better connect with their children.
The Raleigh-based non-profit aims to do so through fatherhood classes offered inside jails and prisons, anger management courses and transition housing. Housing is open to fathers immediately upon their release and hosts up to 38 participants for 90 days, according to Dr. Glen Warren, CEO of Fathers Forever.
Volunteers and attendees alike emphasized the community spirit of the day.
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"We're supposed to be part of the community and give back," said Sharon Journigan, president of the Fayetteville Cumberland County Ministerial Council, which sponsored a booth at the event. "We're better together."
Sanura Smith, a member of The Life Center, said the opportunity to give back was what most excited her about the Massey Hill Fun Day, noting her family brought school supplies to donate to the community.
"There's a lot of resources people don't know about," she said. "You got to have these things to bring awareness."
For the youngest members of the community in attendance, the games and food on offer were the best part of the day.
"I liked the ice cream," said eight-year-old Aiden Lee, who was at Massey Hill Fun Day with his younger sister and grandmother.
Aiden's sister, Arianna Lee, 6, agreed with her brother on the good food, munching on a pack of Sour Patch Kids as she spoke. "The bouncy house was my favorite," she said.
Members of the crowd cheered as Sharrean McCrimmon quoted a proclamation from Mayor Mitch Colvin commemorating the first Massey Hill Fun Day and stating the event will take place every fourth Saturday in August.
"This fun day will allow the residents to embrace the diversity that is present among each neighbor and business within the Massey Hill footprint," McCrimmon read from the proclamation.
Public safety reporter Lexi Solomon can be reached at ABSolomon@gannett.com.
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This article originally appeared on The Fayetteville Observer: Massey Hill Fun Day 2022 kicks off at Recreation Center
