Board of DD re-configures Harvest Fest
A host of big trucks and vehicles from throughout Holmes County stopped by the Board of Developmental Disabilities to participate in Harvest Fest, which went from one large outing in the evening to a bunch of smaller ones during the day.
Two years ago the leaders at Holmes County Board of Developmental Disabilities wanted to do something for its adults that would emulate Tim Tebow’s Night to Shine. While Night to Shine is a national endeavor that provides a prom-like evening for handicapped adults, the Holmes Board of DD went with something on a smaller level, but it was a huge success, and Harvest Festival became an instant hit, providing a place where the adults could dance the night away, play games and more.
Then COVID-19 hit and canceled last year’s event, so the HCBDD decided to find a new way to provide some community enjoyment for their adults. Harvest Fest was reinvented — at least for this year — and they began brainstorming ways they could offer fun events that would be safely done outside where the chance of spreading COVID was lessened.
“We actually weren’t even sure we could do it this year, but we decided that if we kept things outside and keep groups separate, we could do it,” HCBDD superintendent Marianne Mader said. “It doesn’t have quite the same feel because there is so much more excitement when everyone is together and enjoying the event, but we felt it was wise to err on the side of safety. It was much quieter and more subdued with all of the different groups, and so spread out, but it was still something that we could all enjoy, something unique and memorable.”
Therefore, they created several different events all over campus that allowed smaller groups to experience the joy of each portion of the event. In the back courtyard, there was dancing and enjoying the playground equipment. A big thrill came courtesy of taking the Board of DD wagon and giving people wagon rides on some back roads around the community. In another section there were outdoor games to play, and on the west side of the facility, several local law enforcement and emergency vehicles came in and provided an opportunity for the adults to see some big rigs up close.
The trucks in attendance included Holmes Fire District #1, Prairie Township Fire Department, Holmes County Dog Warden, Millersburg Police and Holmes-Wayne Electric Cooperative.
“Not only does this give our students and adults a chance to see something big and fun, it gives people out in our community who serve a chance to connect with the people here, and that is important,” Holmes County Board of DD principal Rhoda Mast said. “Our students and adults learn to adapt to people who serve in our community, and that is what took place. It was one on one with our kids with people who have a heart for service.”
Fire District #1 raised its truck’s ladder to full capacity, and the adults got a thrill from watching one of the members climb it step by step.
To cap off the event, Akron Children’s Hospital helicopter, Air Bear, made an appearance that drew plenty of applause. The Air Bear crew eventually landed and came out to chat with everyone and show off their colorful ride.
Mast said everything came together in a way that enabled everyone to enjoy something different.
“It was a wonderful opportunity to provide something fun outside that got everyone active,” Mast said. “With the way things are right now, it is about creating those little windows of opportunity for our students and adults to enjoy life. I thought our staff was really creative in its planning and being able to think outside the box in a hurry.”
Mader said she knows many schools are back to normal, but because of the health issues of their clientele and the extreme hands-on work that is necessary at the center, they had to play it safe.
“We feel an extra duty to be extremely careful,” Mader said. “We know feelings about COVID right now are across the board, but we felt the need to take a cautious approach. It definitely broke up the monotony of the day, and we had prizes that we handed out to the school kids. We just tried to make the day fun for the kids and adults.”
While it was a joy for the adults and students, Mader said it couldn’t replace the thrill of the initial Harvest Festival dance they experienced in 2019 with everyone all together.
“That was so much fun, a great night where family members were here with loved ones and they were participating in the night’s activities together,” Mader said. “Hopefully we can get back to that in 2022 because it really served as a time of fellowship and community bonding.”