Summer #21 for The Right Path for Washington County did not disappoint! With so many events for youth and families we were blessed and grateful for all our partners and funders that made it all possible.

Providing prevention services to youth is key to our mission of promoting healthy youth development and this is the reason our swim nights and youth farmer’s markets align with our goal.

With 14 swim parties, farmer’s markets, backpack extravaganza and Recovery Day we could not make this happen without our community partners and funders.

Media is a big part of promoting all our events and being able to offer radio time and mentions of those that make it all possible are just a small part of bringing to light all the wonderful things happening in our community.

Our Friday night pool parties mean so much to the families that come each week and so many us them tell us that family nights are their summer vacations. Our providers that host a Friday night come and bring swag and info and add to the fun of the night they sponsor. Adding a youth market to a pool event makes it even better.

Our markets are not just a food giveaway. This is helping our youth make healthy behavioral choices of what they put in their bodies to fuel them and keep them healthy. Youth love fresh produce and trying things that they have never tasted before. Eggplant has been a favorite the past 2 years and it’s amazing to hear them asking for avocado, dragon fruit and tubers, choices they have made over the past few years.

Family time is also an important component of these pool nights and markets as for 2 hours the worries may be forgotten as they focus on just having fun together, as a family. This is worth everything to us!!

We hope the produce picked up at the market carries over to home as they prepare a meal together and sit down at the table to share it. So many memories revolve around sitting down together to eat and sharing your day.

Our “I am Enough” campaign goes hand in hand with our market endeavor as it reinforces that youth are enough, just like they are, without risky behaviors getting in the way of them realizing their hopes for their futures.

Wendy’s has been with us for most of our 21 years, coming in the early years to our race against hunger, The Righditarod, and staying to be a full partner, playing games and bringing prizes to every family night and market we host.

Premier Productions has shared music and contests, as well as being a big part of our mission.

The Juvenile Court has supplied countless swim nights, markets and prizes and supported our efforts and the youth and families that show up each week.

The WC Behavioral Health board and Family and Children First Council helped us make our youth voices project possible this year. Youth shared their thoughts on everything from feeling supported to what it means to them to volunteer in our community.

The Rotary Club helped make our cardboard boat races possible in year #2 and we had more boats and more youth this year, so hopefully this will continue to grow.

Thanks to our funders: WC Behavioral Health Board, Family and Children First, WC Juvenile Court and Judge Williams, WC Boys and Girls Club

Our Grantors: Marietta Welfare League, WV Credit Union, Appalachian Impact Grant, Sisters Health Fund, Parkersburg Area Community Foundation, Women’s Giving Circle, WC Boys and Girls Club, Marietta Community Foundation.

Our partners and supporters: GoPacks, MedMark, Ely Chapman Education Foundation, Rotary, Belpre United Church, Marietta/Belpre Health Department, Southeastern Ohio Counseling Center, Eve, Brightview, Pathways, Community Action Headstart, Fort Frye Wellness Committee, MOVE, Kiwanis Club, Gospel Mission Food Pantry, MHS Boys Basketball team, Jon Neff; Bob’s Greenhouse, River City Farmers Market; Tom Fagan, TRP Board: Judge Williams, Gary Williams, Greg Siegfried, Jamie Booth, Robert Farley, Jen Miller, Andrew Parsons and others, Ray Blackburn and Wendy’s, First Baptist Church Morning Glory Circle, Louise Holmes and Teresa Bryan and Little Caesar’s Pizza.

Backpack Extravaganza #3: Coach Austin Gardner, Jeff and Candy Waite, Parkersburg Area Community Foundation for making sure that school supplies, backpacks and a youth market were available to all the youth who came to get a backpack. MHS basketball team were mentors and role models as they helped youth make their selection. Priceless!!

Media partners: WMOA/JAW, IHeart Media, Marietta Times

The ones that make it all happen every week throughout the summer: The Right Path Board, Judge Williams, DJ Pat Horner, Doug Terrell, Tara Plaugher, Mike Bishman, Ray Blackburn, Gary Williams, Andrew Parsons, city of Marietta, Marietta Aquatic Center, Stephanie Greene, Susan Joyce, Beverly Pool, Megan Lang, Stephanie Starcher, Healthy Communities Coalition, Sherry Ellem, Alyshia Patterson, Munchies Truck, J’s Hotdogs, Jon Neff and crew, our youth and families.

If I missed anyone I apologize, but as you can see the list is endless.

Sincerely,

Cathy Harper

Marietta, OH