25th Annual Community Fest

For a quarter century the St. Luke’s Church has held the 7th Street Community Fest and it was a load of fun. The weather was the best and the festival was a success. The festival was Jun 6, 2009 from 1pm to 6 pm.

There was food and baked goods, entertainment, crafts and games, raffles, balloon artistry, auction, plant sale, used books sale and local community organizations.

Entertaining was DJ ” George”, Street Theatre Alliance, Lehigh Valley Zoo, Gilbert Family Singers, Inner City Tae Kwon Do School, and the St Luke’s Neighborhood Center Step Team. Some of the highlights of the fest were the raffle for a 32” LCD TV and an 8G iPod Touch as well as a “Chinese” Auction of basket and Gift Certificates. Some of the local community organizations who supported the event were the Blood Mobile, the Allentown Police K9 Unit, the Allentown Fire Department, Latino Health Alliance, Allentown Health Bureau, Allentown Recycling Center, Community Action, Development Corp, Housing Association and Development Corp, Community Bike Works, Thrivent Financial Services, and AmeriHealth Mercy.Fun was had by all.

Thanks everyone…hope to see everyone next year.

URBAN CHILDREN'S GARDEN

Scattered throughout the St. Luke’s Children’s Garden are words and intentions like Grow, Laugh, Live and Love. That is what all people and plants want and need. And the chance to do this is just what the children and a few adults are getting this year from the newly planted urban Children’s Garden. The garden is located behind the St. Luke’s Neighborhood Center here on Seventh Street.

The garden was planted by the youth from the neighborhood under the caring and watchful eye of professional gardener, Bernadette Cozart. Bernie, as we affectionately call her, is passionate about working as a gardener and teaching gardening to children and adults alike. This year the children will learn what it takes to garden and to be a gardener. This is a positive life skill that will last a lifetime and hopefully be passed on for many generations to come.

St. Luke’s Evangelical Lutheran Church bought Parks Seafood Restaurant in 1999, renovated the building and opened the neighborhood center. Located at 435 N. 7th Street, St. Luke’s Neighborhood Center is a community neighborhood center open to and supported by the general public, in order to provide facilities, programs and services to individuals and families in this urban setting.