The future of Greenwood and its kids is on the agenda for Saturday’s “Reach One, Teach One” event at Whittington Park.
Some kids have already filled out forms committing to come to the event, and T-shirts have been ordered for them.
Organizer Altorean Spruell said all young people in the community are invited to come out for free food, music, some gifts and a good time.
“We only had enough T-shirts printed up for the kids who pre-registered,” Spruell said. “But anyone who wants to order one can do it on the day of the event.”
A little over 100 kids have pre-registered.
The gathering, to be held at the park’s main pavilion, will start at noon and stretch until 6 p.m. with special events for those ages 5 to 12 in the early part of the afternoon, from noon to 2:30. Those for older kids will start at 3.
Special guests will be preacher Allen Mitchell and state Rep. Chris Bell of Hinds County.
“There will be a DJ and music all day,” Spruell said.
A member of Greenwood High School’s Class of 1987, Spruell said the Class of ’88 has donated some gift cards to local businesses that he’ll give away to the younger kids as door prizes.
Spruell left Greenwood for Jackson State University, where he was drum major for the school’s marching band that performed at the televised Motown 30th anniversary event in Los Angeles, a high point in his life.
But after leaving Greenwood for Arizona, he was arrested on a drug charge and quickly discovered that some of the bad decisions he’d made as a young man would come back to haunt him.
He returned to his hometown in January following 10 years spent in a federal penitentiary and decided it was time to do something constructive for those coming up in Greenwood.
At the “Reach One, Teach One” event, he hopes to see interested parents, neighbors and friends who will commit to nurturing the community’s kids rather than see them sacrificed to the streets.
The Leflore County Sheriff’s Department and the Greenwood Police Department are providing security for the event and will be on hand to interact with kids as well.
Community volunteers have donated and will prepare and serve barbecued chicken, hamburgers and hot dogs. Drinks will be available as well, and everyone is encouraged to bring water if high temperatures persist into the weekend.
Spruell hopes to start a chess camp for Greenwood youth over the summer, and chess boards will likely be on hand for anyone who is interested.
nContact Kathryn Eastburn at 581-7235 or keastburn@gwcommonwealth.com.
