Back To School picnic, carnival and premiere puppet show Saturday at Christ Community Church

A free event, with free food, free carnival games and even a free puppet show, will take place Saturday, July 30, from 2 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. at Christ Community Church on Orange Grove Boulevard.
More than 300 people turned out for the festive Back To School picnic two years ago, and this event has even more fun attractions.
“We’ve arranged for a large inflatable water slide so bring your towels,” said the church’s administrative assistant, Rose Crislip. “We will also have a bounce house and a bunch of carnival games and prizes; ì again all free.”
There will be carnival food like popcorn, cotton candy and snow cones, along with the hot dogs and hamburger picnic food “with all the sides.”
She’s excited about the puppet show. “They are called the Yadda Puppets and are big puppets. The troupe was recommended to us by another church. They put on an awesome show.”
The puppet show itself will start at 5 p.m., with the day kicking off at 2 p.m.
The church relocated from Cape Coral about three years ago to the large North Fort Myers campus on Orange Grove, near the border of the Cape and North Fort Myers. Residents of both communities are members.
Officials said they are welcoming new members and hope to meet more members of the local community at the event.
The current Interim Senior Pastor is Ivor Marchany and the new Youth Pastor is Jack Long II.
The current worship schedule at Christ Community Church is 9:30 a.m. Sunday School and 10:30 a.m. “There will be a new schedule in August.” Crislip said.
The church offers a food pantry on Wednesdays from 10 a.m. until noon. “Our food ministry has grown leaps and bounds, unfortunately. We have over 100 families a week now.” New recipients are asked to bring a picture ID and fill out a form when they register.
“We also have a Homeless Ministry Monday nights called the Bootstrap Ministry. They are a group that comes in, provides a hot meal, a packed lunch, clothes and a shower. They also have a barber come in once a month -ì they are another wonderful ministry.”
Crislip said they all were excited about two more big events now being planned. “We will have a Harvest Festival on Saturday, Oct. 29, which will include a Trunk Or Treat -ì a safe Halloween event.
“On Dec. 3 we will hold a Christmas Craft Bazaar and we are looking for vendors for that event now.”
For more information on the church, call 652-5530, or visit their website; www.3cfl.org. E-mail is ccc@3cfl.org. Christ Community Church is located at 4801 Orange Grove Blvd.