The second annual Community Help Unity Grow, or H.U.G., event is set for 10 a.m. April 19 at Belleville High School.
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The Community H.U.G. goal is to unite the surrounding communities of Belleville, Van Buren, Sumpter, Romulus, Canton, and Ypsilanti and encourage unity. The secondary goal is to break the record for world's largest hug of 7,000 individuals joining together by holding hands. This year's subtext is Protecting Everyone's Access to Community Education or P.E.A.C.E.
The event will begin with a Pancake Breakfast in the High School Cafeteria from 8 a.m. to 10 a.m. The cost of the breakfast is a free will offering with all proceeds going to the Van Buren Schools Education Foundation and the newly established Community, Alumni, & Friends for Van Buren Public Schools.
From 8 a.m. to 9:45 a.m. registration for the Guinness Worlds Records worlds largest hug. At 9:45 a.m. an appreciation celebration will honor the area school teachers.
At 10 a.m., everyone will move to their places around Belleville High School to clasp hands. It is recommended to bring folding chairs to sit in while they are waiting for everyone to move into position. Shortly after that, an aerial photograph is planned to be taken of our community with hands joined around the school property.
After the hug has been recorded, everyone will be dismissed to go to the school of their choice in the Van Buren Public Schools District to support a PTO celebration project. The PTO projects vary from building to building, but will include everything from yard work to repairs. Volunteers are needed at all schools, time commitments are flexible.
The Community H.U.G. is a powerful way to say our community stands together to Protect Everyone's Access to Community Education, according to a press relase. Schools and community should be a safe place to live and learn. Last year more than 800 community members, students, and teachers joined together to affirm that our schools and community are a safe place to live and learn. The H.U.G was an unprecedented event in the Van Buren Public Schools District that was initiated by Open Arms Lutheran Church.
The date of April 19 was chosen to coincide with Earth Day on April 22 to tie students learning about how to take care to how to take care of their school. Everyone is invited and encouraged to join hands with Belleville, Van Buren, Sumpter, the Van Buren Public Schools Education Foundation, Community, Alumni, & Friend for VBPS (CAFf), area churches, and Belleville Chamber of Commerce. This is a Belleville, Sumpter, Van Buren, Canton, Ypsilanti and Romulus community event which should not be missed.
At its core, peace is needed before a community can work together to solve any of the ills inherent in the system. Community safety affects us all in profound ways. If people don't feel safe in community and schools, the affects on the children and the local economy are devastating.
The H.U.G. will bring the whole community together around Van Buren Public Schools on April 19th based on something that is positive: Standing together in support of our schools and doing what it takes for the safety of the children, teachers, administrators, and all who support their work.
Everyone taking part in the World's Largest Hug will need to register to document the hug for the Guinness World Records organization. Pre-registration is available on the H.U.G. website at www.helpunitygrow.net. Those registering on the day of the HUG will be asked to provide some proof they are part of Van Buren Public Schools and upon registration will receive a number for use toward the official count we submit to the Guinness World Records for the World's Largest Hug.
"I have seen much positive growth in our schools and community that started with last year's H.U.G. event" says Pete Lazaroff, Superintendent of Van Buren Public Schools. "Each school had volunteers that worked on school beautification projects on the day of the HUG that accomplished needed maintenance and repair around our schools. Community members who passed by our schools during this time stopped and offered help, resources, or food to the workers. Our PTOs and Parent Involvement Committee experienced a surge in membership and momentum after the H.U.G. and a new organization within our District, the PTO Council, was revitalized as a result of the H.U.G. I would like to invite anyone who would like to experience something purely positive, and to support our community, to attend the H.U.G. At last year's event you could feel the energy in the air and the positive community support all around. Come and join us in this effort for P.E.A.C.E. in our schools and community. We are better together."
Plan now to attend the Community H.U.G. for P.E.A.C.E. The health and safety of our schools affects us all. The health and safety of our schools affects our future as students are raised up to be the leaders of our future.
For more information about the Community H.U.G. or would like to help out with this community event please call Paul W. Henning, Communication Specialist, Van Buren Public Schools at 734-697-9123, ext. 225 or e-mail phenning@vanburenschools.net or contact Pastor Jim Richter, Open Arms at 734-699-5000, pastorjim@openarmscenter.com or visit the website at www.helpunitygrow.net.
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