Suffolk News-Herald

Dot Dalton, president of IMPACT Suffolk, said that everything is in place for the Fifth Annual Wacky Saturday event that will take place from 11 a.m.-2 p.m. Saturday at the tennis courts behind Farm Fresh on North Main Street. The entire event is free to the public.

The event began in 1997 at Constant’s Wharf and used to follow religious gatherings that ran for a week by the organization.

Activities for the day will include face painting, balloons, music, disaster information and health screenings,

&uot;The American Red Cross will be on hand to conduct the screenings, &uot;Jesters for Jesus&uot; will include the clown acts who will also perform skits, the Gideons will be there to give away Bibles, and there will be a tractor trailer coming from &uot;Operation Blessing &uot; with 25,000 to 35,000 pounds of food to give away free of charge to the needy at 1 p.m.&uot; said Dalton.

Those holding tickets will be the only ones that will receive food from &uot;Operation Blessing.&uot; These tickets totaling 1,000 will be available beginning at 11 a.m. However, hot dogs, drinks and potato chips will be available free of charge to all who attend.

Prior to Whacky Saturday,

another event, &uot;Bloom 2003,&uot; will be held from 7-10 p.m. Friday, June 6, at the Suffolk YMCA Daycare Center on Godwin Boulevard. This activity features a Christian youth band, and will include favorite local bands, and both black and white rap artists. The program and parking are free, but a food concession stand only on Friday will include pizza and drinks for a small price.

&uot;Bloom 2003&uot; is sponsored by IMPACT Suffolk, the YMCA, Youth Mania, Copico, and The Addison Group. Solid Rock Productions is coordinating the event.

IMPACT Suffolk was formed in 1995 by members from cross-city area churches to bring them together and to break down racial barriers that exist in the city. Eventually these members who helped to make up the organization saw the need to provide food and information to the community, which produced the Whacky Saturday event.