Back to Family FUN-Damentals set for Wednesday

Monessen Communities That Care will offer the free event at the Civic Center.

Monessen Communities That Care will host an event this week for families across the Mon Valley.

The second annual Back to Family FUN-Damentals will be held from 5-7 p.m. Wednesday at the Monessen Civic Center. Admission is free.

The event will include free food, a lemonade bar, candy bars from all decades, games, prizes and giveaways, music from several decades, a tiedye station, an Atari Pong tournament on a huge projector screen and more.

Jessica Anderson, mobilizer for the Monessen Family Center, stated that the chosen theme reflects the connection between older and younger generations in families, which is why all ages and generations will find enjoyment in the festivities.

“The parents and grandparents will remember many of the songs, games and activities,” she said. “They’ll take a trip down memory lane and share these memories with the young people.”

Anderson added that the event is because financial difficulties can sometimes ruin the fun for families who want to enjoy time together.

“We also understand that many families are facing financial struggles,” she said, “so we wanted to offer a completely free event that families could enjoy.”

Attendees are encouraged to dress in the apparel of their favorite decade. Apparel suggestions include bell-bottoms from the 1970s, neon clothing from the ’80s, grunge from the ’90s or another style from an era of individual choice.

Anderson has high expectations for the event and hopes to see a large turnout.

“We are hopeful to share the word about the great work that Monessen Communities That Care does in our community,” Anderson said, “and get people interested and involved in the community collaborative board.”

With children having more extracurricular activities during the summer, Anderson hopes families choose to take a break from their busy schedules and show support for the positive impact Monessen CTC provides.

“Families are busier than ever with children’s extracurricular activities,” Anderson said, “but we are hoping this is something families will be able to attend and enjoy.”

Anderson hopes that everyone who attends the event enjoy themselves.

“We have been advertising for over a month,” Anderson said, “and have put lots of time and effort into planning all of the activities involved in this event.”

Monessen CTC, Westmoreland Drug & Alcohol Commission, and the Monessen Family Center are hosting the event as part of a collaborative effort to create a space where families can have fun and engage with their community.

For additional details or questions, contact the Monessen Family Center by phone at (724)-684-4370, or send an email to Anderson at janderson@sphs.org.