Service for Peace and Big Animals for Little Kids Team Up in Party for Children at Serenity Center

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Twenty San Diego County Service for Peace volunteers donned animal costumes, painted faces, and created merriment in league with volunteers from Big Animals for Little Kids, all to entertain about 40 mothers and children residing at the Serenity House center in Escondido. The event marked the kick-off of the 2005 San Diego Summer of Service.

The two groups worked together to create a two-hour long party of music, dancing, magic tricks, and overall fun for the residents of the center, which houses women recovering from drug and alcohol dependencies and their children.

Youthful volunteers from the San Diego chapter of Service for Peace donned Winnie-the-Pooh, Teletubbie, and other costumes under the guidance of Big Animal volunteers, then strolled to the social hall of the center, where their hugs and goofy antics soon drew hesitant residents out of their chairs and changed them into a laughing, dancing mob.

Each animal was accompanied by a second Service for Peace volunteer who acted as the animal's "trainer," guiding them through the excited crowd. Other Service for Peace volunteers entertained the crowd with puppets, funny hats, and face painting.

Costumes, props, and guidance were provided by Big Animals for Little Kids, a group of San Diego volunteers who dress in animal costumes and entertain at-risk children in various locations. Big Animals president Mitch Gregory kept the excitement going as DJ for the event, as other Big Animals volunteers donned animal costumes, performed magical tricks and painted fanciful figures on the faces of the mothers and kids.

Lisa Johnson, Program Director of the center praised both groups for their service, saying the party provided a wonderful opportunity to residents to experience fun times without the aid of alcohol or drugs, and gave a unique opportunity for bonding between mothers and children that may have had difficult times together in the past.

The San Diego chapter of Service for Peace will continue their involvement with Serenity House this year through a series of computer classes aimed at helping residents learn the basic computer skills required to secure high-quality jobs after they graduate from the program. Both activities are part of the 2005 San Diego area Summer of Service program, a summer-long program designed to foster growth and a sense of community involvement in youth through service.