WESTLOCK — Westlock residents are invited to join in the celebration when the Westlock and District Family and Community Support Services (FCSS) host their annual parking lot party on Thursday, Sept. 14.
The annual event began seven years ago in 2017 to mark FCSS’s 50th anniversary and has been held every summer since. This year it runs from 3:30-6 p.m. in the FCSS parking lot at the Westlock Heritage Building and will feature games, activities, music and a free meal.
“It’s really just to showcase what we do and it’s our chance to thank our community for always coming out to our events and supporting us,” said FCSS volunteer program coordinator April Allen. “FCSS partners with other agencies throughout the entire year and this is the one event that we put on every year.”
The annual parking lot party is always well attended with more 350 people out last year, noted Allen, adding that although there won’t be any live entertainment, they will have music and a couple of new attractions including a bouncy castle and face painter Blue-Eyed Daisy from Barrhead. As well, this year’s free meal is being catered and will include beef on a homemade bun with coleslaw.
Allen said FCSS provides preventative social programming in a number of different areas including seniors, youth, community outreach and a new volunteer program.
“We’ve always had volunteer opportunities and now I’m just trying to grow that and create a bigger volunteer community in Westlock,” said Allen. “If any other organization or agency need volunteers, I can just reach out to that pool of volunteers I have and see who’s interested (in helping).”
