CHI - Friendship

for a Picnic For the past two years, CHI Friendship has held annual picnics in Grafton and Fargo to recognize the value and strength of the CHI Friendship community and provide cherished family time for the people we support. The 2017 events, which have grown in participation every year, did not waver from this tradition. THE MORE THE MERRIER The Fargo and Grafton picnics—held on August 24 and August 31—brought together the people we support with their families, guardians, and friends to enjoy the day and each other's company. "There was a huge turnout to both picnics," said Trisha Hickey, MSLA manager at CHI Friendship. "There were so many cars parked at the venues that we had to use golf carts to transport people back and forth." While the sunny skies and warm weather certainly helped make the picnics a success, there were several other factors that made it a memorable way to spend the day. Food—CHI Friendship provided hamburgers and hot dogs, while many attendees contributed a dish to round out the feast. "The food is the highlight of these picnics," said Dori Leslie, Vice President of CHI Friendship. "The picnics are potluck style, and everyone is invited to bring a dish. There were tables filled with delicious things to eat—hot dishes, salads, desserts—anything you could want." Entertainment—The entertainment portion of our picnics grows every year, and this year included face painting, slime/gak-making, hula hooping, and playing tic-tac-toe. A giant, human-sized checkerboard was a big hit, in addition to ladder ball, beanbag toss, and giant sensory table that was popular with children. Connections—This was a great opportunity for families to connect with each other and share their personal stories. CONTINUED ON PAGE 4 CHI FRIENDSHIP /// chifriendship.com 3

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