Washington High School Community Block Party

COLTON >> Washington High School, located at 900 East C Street in Colton, held its annual community block party, hosted by the Colton Joint Unified School District, on April 24 from 1-4pm. The block party included over 40 different booths that provided information and free services to the community. Marketing of this event included flyers passed out within the community and communication via the Colton Joint Unified School District's Facebook. Some of the booths that offered information and free services at this event were literacy books and puppies therapy, a free food vendor, SOS Ministries on domestic violence, dental health care information, healthy living information, free health care screening, Urban Farmers with fresh produce, information on narcotics abuse, breath mobile that offers free mobile allergy screening for ages 0-21 years, and other booths that provided free games and face painting for children. The event also included a free puppet show for children, as well as a raffle with free giveaways. The booths were managed by local residents and college students from Loma Linda University located in Loma Linda and La Sierra University located in Riverside. This event was sponsored by Azure Hills Adventist Church, a local Seventh-Day Adventist church, located in Grand Terrace. When asked the purpose of sponsoring this community event and what were the hopes for the community, Patty Marruffo, the pastor of the children and family ministries at Azure Hills Adventist Church stated, "My mission is to love people the way God loves us. I hope to bless the community and spread the love of God in my own way." Peter Tasaka, principal at Washington High, and vice principal, Beatrice Blake, are encouraging prayer in the school system by praying over faculty, staff, and students. The staff and board members at CJUSD hope to continue hosting this block party annually as a way to connect with the community. CJUSD board clerk, Randall Ceniceros states, "Connection with the community and schools is very important. Every year will build momentum and hopefully blossom into something larger for the community." The staff of Washington High and the school district give thanks to the community cabinet for the success of this event. Community participation was the key to the success of this community service event.