Harvest Festival aims to help feed the hungry

A box of food or canned food item is the only admission cost for the Yuba City Youth Commission’s Harvest Festival on Oct. 26.

Every year, for some four years, the youth commission has hosted a Harvest Festival to help feed the hungry in Yubasutter. Members of the commission are between the ages of 13 and 17, and are dedicated to getting the youth involved in the community.

“I got my acceptance letter the day I graduated from 8th grade,” said now-17-year-old Genevieve Hagen, youth commissioner. “Sometimes youth think there’s no way for them to help out in the community, so we try to create activities and events that promote positive youth involvement.”

This year’s festival will include face paintings, arts, crafts, games, a costume contest and the opportunity to purchase food from the Playzeum, the kids’ facility providing space for the festival. The admission cost (donated food) and proceeds will be distributed to local food banks who assist in feeding those who need it.

“Last year we collected six trash bins of canned food,” said Kelsey Myers, recreation coordinator and liaison for the youth commission. “I’m looking forward to doubling that.”

Myers said there is a Facebook event created for the festival which shows the RSVP number being almost twice what it was last year. Although community members can RSVP online through Facebook, it’s not required.

“I remember brainstorming for the festival in the beginning, so it’s amazing to see it grow to over 1,000 people showing up and all of our hard work paying off,” Hagen said. “It really makes our night (at the festival) to see all of the smiling faces on kids and parents telling us thank you.”

The festival will be at the Playzeum Yuba-sutter, 1980 S. Walton Ave., Yuba City from 4 p.m.-7 p.m. For more information, call 822-4650.