Back to school can mean the end to a fun summer vacation for some students.

But on Saturday, deaf children from area schools celebrated the occasion with a day of free food, roller skating and a special magic show at Myrtle Grove Baptist Church. The church treated 30 deaf and hard-of-hearing children from West Pensacola Elementary, Workman Middle School and Washington High School to a special day of fun.

 

One of the main attractions was Dunno the Clown, who painted children's faces and made balloon sculptures.

Later, Jeff Spooneybarger wowed the crowd with a visually oriented magic show designed specifically for deaf children.

Ventriloquist Ron Pouliot also provided comedy with his life-sized dummy, Randy.

Volunteers from around the community and the church donated time and effort to help bring the event to life.

Annetta Jernigan, director of the Myrtle Grove Baptist Church deaf ministry, said several students from Escambia High School with an American Sign Language class helped the children roller skate.

Jernigan said events such as these have been conducted for deaf children since 1979 because of the church's deaf ministry.

"We hope they will become aware of the services that are designed specifically for deaf and hard-of-hearing children," she said. "We're hoping to get some new families from this event."

Pastor Ron Lentine, an organizer for the event, said the day's activities helped to kick start an up-and-coming Sunday program geared specifically for deaf children called "Fun in the Son."

The primary goal of Saturday's event, Lentine said, was to teach children that they are cared for by God and the community and that church can be fun.

Kirk Schultz and his wife, Kathy, brought their 5-year-old daughter, Kristen, who had her face painted and had a balloon shaped to look like her favorite "Care Bear" character.

"The primary motivation was for her to meet other deaf children and for her to form friendships with deaf and hard-of-hearing children," Kirk Schultz said.

"We think it's wonderful for the church to provide this kind of opportunity."

Jernigan said too few activities for deaf and hard-of-hearing people exist in the community, and the church is seeking to create a family-fun environment where children can bond.

"We want them to enjoy themselves," she said.

In order to reach out to the community as a whole, the church also has formed educational partnerships with the YMCA and schools such as West Pensacola Elementary, Lentine said.

©The Pensacola News Journal
August 30, 2004