TUPELO, MISS.
Thousands of family members gathered from varied faiths in the Tupelo Stake Nov. 8-14 to celebrate The Week of the Family Tupelo. The widely supported event, with more than 30 sponsors and partners, held activities throughout the city to give families free and fun recreation.
Building bridges of friendship with First Presbyterian Church in Tupelo, more than 250 people joined Mayor Jack Reed Jr. at a family dinner to kick off the week. Families enjoyed hamburgers, hotdogs and s'mores over an open flame organized by the Boy Scouts and lots of outdoor fun and games. The mayor presented a Proclamation for The Week of the Family Tupelo to the the Tupelo Mississippi Stake's public affairs director, Gina Thorderson, and committee member Jala Caldwell.
"The Week of the Family Tupelo was a great way to bring the city families together," Sister Thorderson said. "We had so much support throughout the community. It was wonderful. The Quality of Life Committee donated $1,000 for us to buy T-shirts to give away to families for free. The Hog Roasters cooked lunch for everyone for free also. Entertainment volunteered their services too. Everyone loved the Elvis impersonator and the local drum group."
Events throughout The Week of the Family Tupelo included library story time, bowling, skating, swimming and gymnastics. A local wellness center, HealthWorks Kids Museum and Oren Dunn Museum opened their doors to welcome family members.
Local TV news reported more than 500 people at the Skatezone, a local rink, which opened its doors free to families.
Family Day at Fairpark was the largest event during the week; it included inflatables, Segway rides, helium balloons, T-shirts, lunch, tours of a fire truck and ambulance and rock wall climbing, along with a family night challenge and family history tent.
"I was really excited about the Family Night Challenge. We gave away 120 family home evening kits to families who took a challenge to hold family night once a week for three months and then agreed to let us phone them to see how family night has strengthened their families," Sister Thorderson reported.
"It was neat to see so many parents walking around with family home evening kits. One woman came up to me and told me she was a single mother and was wondering how she could help her family. She said she was very excited to try a weekly family night.
"We were also happy to have a family history tent manned by our family history consultants, Russell and Evelyn Griechen. A local computer store donated two computers to be set up to allow attendees to research their ancestors. Forty families asked for more information on their family history," continued Sister Thorderson.
The week concluded with a parenting conference at the Church with special speaker, Elder Devn Cornish, an Area Seventy. Elder Cornish, a neonatologist, spoke of the importance of teaching values before crisis. He taught how family home evening is the perfect setting to teach good values so when times of trial come for families, principles have been taught and decisions already made.
"It was a great week for the Church in our area," Sister Thorderson said. "The sweet message of families was spread all week through the local newspaper and TV stations. We've had many parents tell us how grateful they are that our Church took a stand for families."
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