By Claudia Loucks
Geneseo Current
Four-year-old Sophie Rushing, left; her mother Jenna Rushing, and her seven-year-old sister Claire Rushing, are shown with some of the toys to be used for the Lil’ GUMDROPS - Grace United Methodist Church Draw, Read, Open Play and Snack – playgroup offered at Grace United Methodist Church in Geneseo. Registration is underway for the fall session which begins Wednesday, Oct. 8. Registration deadline is Sept. 19. Photo by Claudia Loucks
Lil’ GUMDROPS volunteers are ready to welcome youngsters at Grace United Methodist Church in Geneseo.
The Lil’ GUMDROPS – Grace United Methodist Church Draw, Read, Open Play and Snack - playgroup will begin Wednesday, Oct. 8, at the church, 318 North Center St.
GUMDROPS is a weekly play group and outreach program for children that is hosted and supported by Grace Church.
Sessions are from 9:15 to 10:30 a.m., on Wednesdays, from Oct. 8 through Nov. 19. There is a special field trip on Friday, Oct .24 when the group will visit Frank’s Pumpkin Patch in Atkinson.
The program is open to the community, for children ages 2-5. Children who attend must be accompanied by a parent or caregiver. Cost is $20 for the first child and $10 for each additional child in the same family.
Registration deadline for the fall session is Friday, Sept. 19, and registration can be completed through the church website at www.geneseograce.org or through the group’s Face book page, www.facebook.com/lilgumdrops. Space is limited for the fall session and registration is recommended as soon as possible.
Lil’ GUMDROPS is under the direction of church member Jenna Rushing.
Rushing said the program includes time for play, snacks, crafts and stories with weekly themes.
Rushing said, “Special events are planned for the fall session, and photos will be taken with the group’s trip to Frank’s Pumpkin Patch, and at the session when the children, dressed in costume, go trick-or-treating throughout the church.
Rushing said, “GUMDROPS was founded as a way to initiate new relationships between church members and people in the community, and to witness God’s love through service.”
The schedule:
-Oct. 8 – Color Poetry.
-Oct. 15 – Photos with Sarah Sunstrom.
-Oct. 24 – Trip to Frank’s Pumpkin Patch.
-Oct. 29 – Trick-or-Treat around the church.
-Nov. 5 – Noah’s Ark.
-Nov. 12 – Shapes.
-Nov. 19 – Thanksgiving.
