Fun in service

The kids of the Adventurers and Pathfinders Clubs from Union City, Jersey City Heights and Newark Luso-Brazilian happily donned their club uniforms on Sept. 12 and took to the streets to participate in a parade to raise awareness about health and the importance of donating blood and bone marrow in particular.
The parade began at Ellsworth Park in Union City and finished with a health fair at the Union City Seventh Day Adventist Church on Kerrigan Avenue.

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“It was a fun way to do community service.” – Claudia Garcia del Puerto
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During their march, the children displayed flags and signs with messages about bone marrow and blood donation as well as general health-related messages against drugs and smoking.
They also distributed bracelets, flyers, and red balloons to the parade onlookers.
“It was a fun way to do community service,” said Claudia Garcia del Puerto, the associate director of the Adventurer Club.
But beyond just fun, the children were also to make an impact – they obtained 31 blood donors and 20 bone marrow donors at the event on Sunday.
As a reward for all their hard work, Garcia del Puerto said the kids had snacks and juice while enjoying face painting and a puppet show by Godwin Carmenatty at the church.
Lana Rose Diaz can be reached at ldiaz@hudsonreporter.com.