On Saturday the sound of laughter could be heard at the Stars and Stripes Museum at Bloomfield. It was kids day at the museum but this particular kids day was special. The proceeds from the food and games are going to the family of Kyran Mitchel.
Michel is a student at Richland Elementary who is battling a rare form of cancer. Museum curator Morgan Wilkinson said the family is looking to start treatment with a specialist in the form of cancer that Mitchel is battling. Wilkinson the family is considering a doctor in New York City as well as one in Kansas City.
Wilkinson said the museum staff wanted to help cover the cost of treatment, travel and other expenses.
The Modern Woodmen of America agreed to match the funds raised at the event up to $2,500.
“Honestly Kids Days work really well for combining with other fundraisers for other kids and other events,” Wilkinson said. “The Kids Day was already planned, which was the mini Victory Gardens.”
The mini Victory Gardens at the event were inspired by a practice during World Wars I and II. Wilkinson explained that families were encouraged to plant vegetable gardens. This allowed pre packaged food to be sent to soldiers overseas.
At the event kids that attended were a flower pot to paint. After painting the pot the child chose a fruit or vegetable to plant in the pot. This could then be transplanted at their homes into a garden and the child could then grow their own fruit or vegetable.
Other activities included a bounce house donated by Knava's Bounce House, carnival duck game where kids would pick plastic ducks out of the water and try to match the numbers printed on the underneath side of the duck to win prizes. Abuela's food truck was on hand and The Wake Foundation sponsored a raffle in which the prize was a handmade corn hole set. The winner of the corn hole set can one of the branches of the military as the design for the set.
All proceeds from the event went to the Mitchel family.
“Because the museum is nonprofit, I ask a lot throughout the year and so I try to come up with ways to give back,” said Wilkinson. “Given we are obviously recuperating from last year, it's hard but this just felt right. Plus Kyran's dad is a Navy veteran, it just worked out well and it feels good to do something in return.”