Picnic Time Is Celebration Time!

Enjoying Good Vibrations!

Written by SurfWriter Girls Sunny Magdaug and Patti Kishel

Hot dogs, chili, ice cream, watermelon, carnival games, music and more!

Everywhere SurfWriter Girls Sunny Magdaug and Patti Kishel looked we could see people having fun at Orange County's Celebration Recovery Picnic – the annual event sponsored by the Mental Health Association of Orange County, Jamboree Housing, NAMI OC, and other community health organizations.

The picnic does more than bring people together.  It's a healing event that celebrates their accomplishments in overcoming life's setbacks – emotional, physical, and other difficulties.

 

Helen Cameron, Director of Supportive Housing at Jamboree Housing, told SurfWriter Girls, "I love going to the picnic each year because we see all the success stories. It's great to see people having fun and enjoying the day."  

There was something for everyone...with bingo games and a watermelon eating contest.

People lined up for ice cream. SurfWriter Girls spotted Jamboree's Operations Manager Raul Fernandez in line and joined him for a cool treat.   

Looking around, we found a crowd gathered at the face painting booth. Everyone was excited to see the transformations.

Volunteer Sheala Carstairs – with a beautiful butterfly painted on her face – made sure that everyone got chili dogs.

Other volunteers grilled the hot dogs, supervised the games and kept the music going.

Later, Helen Cameron, whose husband Alan was helping out, too, talked more about her goal:

“To help get people with disabilities off the streets and into permanent, supportive housing." She noted that it's a huge task, but when everyone works together it's amazing what they can do.

And, it was amazing to feel all the good vibrations around us.

 

A Dance to Summer – Jules Feiffer

SurfWriter Girls

Surf’n Beach Scene Magazine

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Sunny Magdaug and Patti Kishel hold the exclusive rights to this copyrighted material. Publications wishing to reprint it may contact them at surfwriter.girls@gmail.com Individuals and non-profit groups are welcome to post it on social media sites as long as credit is given.