Darlington County First Steps hosts Fun Fall Festival

Darlington County First Steps held a Fun Fall Festival at Fairfield Inn on Thursday as part of the monthly parents as teachers meeting. Officer Mica Griggs of the Hartsville Police Department was the guest speaker for the program and spoke on safety while trick or treating.

Linda Bright, early literacy coach, read a story to the children called “The Ghost On Pederson Farm,” and Magician Dave Neilson entertained with his magic tricks.

Activity stations were set up and were manned by Hartsville High School’s Family, Community and Career Leaders of America and Daughters of Excellence. The children painted pumpkins, colored and participated in other fall activities.

Bright said the program is designed to take children in the community to the next level of learning. Bright, a retired teacher, works with the children on reading skills in schools and at their homes.

Audrey Pinckney, also with First Steps, said she works with children and parents in the homes. These are children who are not in school or in daycare. She said there were about 75 people who attended the fall festival, including 40 children, parents and volunteers.

The parents were handed information packets on Halloween trick-or-treat safety as they registered. Everyone was treated to dinner.