MUNCIE, Ind. — An event designed to unite and uplift the community was held on Tuesday evening for Muncie’s southside neighborhood.
“Basketball and kickball with Local First Responders,” as the Southside Neighborhood Association calls it, is an event that was put together to help kids and families in the community get a better understanding of the role of police officers, EMTS, firemen, and other emergency dispatchers in Muncie. The association’s president, Courtney Marsh, hopes that events like these will teach kids about their resources within the community.
“That way when kids do need to call them, they’re not scared or unsure. It’s just another person to them,” Marsh explained. “So we put this event together just for that reason: so that we could connect those two together, and so that when the situation arose that they maybe did need them, they wouldn’t be scared to reach out.”
The association believes that putting together events like this will assist in bridging the gap between community and first responders, as these events encourage them to work and play together. With games like kickball and basketball, this annual communion stands as one of the neighborhood’s favorite events.
This tradition kicked off four years ago and has continued to grow in popularity and size. What started with a simple kickball game and basketball game has grown over the years as the popularity of the gathering has increased.
This year, community members were given food-truck and slushie tickets. In addition, they were encouraged to put their names into one of the many raffle boxes organized by the association’s executive board. These drawings awarded kids with goodies such as sweatshirts, basketballs, and movie passes.
“Maybe one of our kids will be able to go to the movies, which might be something their families can’t normally do, but with the raffle item they receive those as a prize and they can go on their own time,” Marsh said.
This event was held outside at Ball Corp Park, where the neighborhood was able to utilize the beautiful green lawns and basketball court. Gathered right off of South Macedonia Avenue, the park was the perfect spot for a food truck and community fun.
It is the association’s hope that they can assist in building healthy and happy relationships within the neighborhood. Their team works hard year-round to create events and opportunities for the people of Muncie. The small association board consists of the president and vice president, along with a treasurer and a few other executive members. But this team has no shortage of love.
“Our team looks a lot bigger on the outside than what it really is,” Marsh commented. “But I think it’s because our hearts are so big, and so that helps out.”
People like Marsh deeply care for the Southside neighborhood and its success in Muncie. With events like Family Fun Day in August and the turkey giveaway in November, the Southside Neighborhood Association is always looking for a way to support their residents. This year, they are specifically working on supporting the elderly demographic in Muncie. It is very important to their team that everyone in the community feels welcome and safe.
To learn more about the Southside Neighborhood Association and support their mission, you can contact them at southsidemuncie@gmail.com.
Contact Tatum Harris with comments at tatum.harris@bsu.edu.
