News > April 19, 2007

By Gerianne Benson | Staff writer

HOPE, or Helping to Overcome Physical Expectations, sponsored its second annual KidsFest, a carnival specially designed to fit the needs of disabled children, despite the downpour on the Quad April 15. Activities are designed so that children with special needs can enjoy and fully participate.

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Students interact with young children while volunteering with KidsFest, an annual carnival sponsored by HOPE held for children with disabilities. (Sophie Mullinax/Old Gold & Black)

In addition to large inflatable play areas, HOPE hired a professional band and set up over 30 booths manned by different campus organizations to help entertain the children.

Junior Elizabeth Gamino volunteered at a booth for the afternoon. “Considering the weather and location change, I think it went okay,” Gamino said. “I think there would have been a better turnout if the event were outside, but many people from the community were there as volunteers, which was great.”

This year, KidsFest was themed “Mission: Possible.” HOPE began by pairing university students with a student from either the Children’s Center or the Special Children’s School. These volunteers work with their “buddy” one-on-one to help them overcome obstacles.

Each child has goals they need to reach during the school year and the volunteers are there to help them focus on these goals and achieve them successfully. KidsFest began last year as a way to end the year of volunteering through HOPE. In 2006, HOPE, the Volunteer Service Corps and Debate Across the Curriculum teamed together to open the university campus for children with special needs.

“The HOPE leadership team thought it would be nice to invite the families of the children we volunteer with to the campus of Wake Forest to enjoy a free day of fun that caters to their children with disabilities, which is a rare occasion,” junior Erica Lunsford, president of HOPE, said.

HOPE’s leadership team consists of 15 students who have been working since January to put together KidsFest. Additionally, funds from HOPE, the Student Activities Fund, Union Grover Lumber and MidSouth Builders were used to offset the costs of activities including the band, the games, the prizes and the decorations.

“Most important to KidsFest is the volunteers,” Lunsford said. “It takes special volunteers that are willing to set up a booth, run it for a couple of hours and make a mark in a child’s life. Volunteering for KidsFest is open to anyone on campus with free time and an open heart.”