Breaking News
Local News

Community counts: Altoona Housing Authority hosts annual back to school event

By Colette Costlow 3 min read

In today's world, it's difficult to see your neighbors, let alone befriend them.

To change that narrative, however, many Fairview Hills residents showed up at the complex's pavilion for the Altoona Housing Authority's "Back to School" event Friday in search of family fun and a sense of community.

Resident and mother Aliyaah Robinson spent time with her friends during the event, making sure her 6-year-old son, Zymier, was having a good time eating, coloring and playing games.

She said she doesn't regularly see the people living in her complex, so this event is a chance to get to know her neighbors.

"It brings everyone together," Robinson said.

In partnership with the Gloria Gates Memorial Foundation, the Altoona Housing Authority has hosted this event at Fairview Hills for the past couple of years, Executive Director Brad Kanuch said.

While making sure everyone has a good time, he said they invite area agencies, such as the Gloria Gates Memorial Foundation's afterschool program, to talk about their programs.

Residents and their kids can find out more information about registration dates if interested, said Jess Brunner, Gloria Gates Memorial Foundation executive director.

"It's bringing area agencies that some of our residents might not know about, and it gets them in touch with services that they may need down the road," she said.

Nonprofit Contact Altoona was one of the vendors available at Friday's event, where Executive Director Erin Kay and Administrative Assistant Amanda Burkhart were seen talking with visitors and handing out free pens and keychains.

The free helpline is available for anyone who needs to talk to someone, Kay said, adding that their service is anonymous and judgment-free. They also specialize in Blair County resources; they can point a caller in a specific direction if they're looking for a specific type of help.

Kay said anyone can call their helpline -- even kids.

"For the kids, we really try to advertise that the helpline is there," she said. "So they know they have somebody as well."

Looking out for their community, members of the Altoona Housing Authority grilled about 120 hot dogs in preparation for Friday's turnout. Fairview Hills property manager Randy Wilson was found cooking a few on an outdoor grill.

These events can show residents that the Altoona Housing Authority cares about them, he said.

"A lot of our employees come together to show appreciation for them (residents) too," he said. "We love our jobs, and we wanted to show our appreciation back and celebrate."

Fairview Hills resident Chris Socie was spending time with his kids at the apartment's playground, which was why he came to Friday's event.

A community cookout is important "to get residents together and meet new people," he said.

Friday's gathering was more than a social opportunity for friends and mothers Savannah Sabol and Alaina Roddenberry, who see it more as a unifying experience.

There aren't many social events happening at her complex, Sabol said, and some people view the kids living in the apartments as "lower-class citizens."

"So when everyone that lives here comes together, it just makes it feel like everyone's welcome," she said.

It's fun that the Altoona Housing Authority hosts a cookout like this to show that we're one, Roddenberry said.

"They don't let anybody feel left out," she said.

Mirror staff writer Colette Costlow is at 814-946-7414.

Starting at /week.