The theme for Warsaw’s First Friday on Nov. 5 was Carnival of Giving. People could play games if they brought food, clothing or toiletry items, which were given to local nonprofits. They could also make monetary donations. One of the organizations to benefit was St. Anne’s Episcopal Church of Warsaw, which also sold cheeseballs to help with its outreach budget. From left: St. Anne’s church members Frank Sapper, Kim Hensley, Cathy Carter and Greg Spiro. InkFreeNews photos by Leah Sander.

By Leah Sander
InkFreeNews

WARSAW — Attendees at this month’s Warsaw First Friday got to enjoy a bit of fun while giving back to others.

The theme for Friday, Nov. 5’s event was a Carnival of Giving. People could bring food, clothing or toiletry items to exchange for tickets to play games.

Staffing the games were representatives from area nonprofit organizations that benefited from donations, including monetary gifts.

One of those that participated was St. Anne’s Episcopal Church of Warsaw, which will use donations for its annual Thanksgiving basket project.

Cathy Carter, who helps chair the project, said the church was to make up 200 baskets of food to give out. It’s been running the basket program for at least 10 years.

“We’re hoping at least we’ll get maybe $500 out of tonight because each basket costs roughly $30 and we do 200 of them, so it’s $6,000 cost to us,” said Carter. “Anything we can get for the community just paying it forward.”

The church was also selling cheeseballs Friday with the net profit for those to go into its outreach budget.

“And then we have monthly a different organization in the community like Beaman Home, Animal Welfare League, Fellowship Missions … every month we have a different one and we just donate either items that they have listed that they’re in need of or monetary donations, whichever,” she said.

People may still donate for the Thanksgiving basket project. To do so, they may drop off monetary or food donations at the church at 424 W. Market St., Warsaw, or mail checks to 424 W. Market St., Warsaw, IN 46580.

Honoring veterans

Thanksgiving is one of November’s holidays, but another is Veterans Day.

Those at First Friday were reminded of that via the performance of patriotic songs by students from Lakeview and Edgewood middle schools.

Band Director Joe Peloza led the kids in what was a preview of their upcoming Veterans Day performance. The public is welcome to attend.

“Nov. 11 … at the Lakeview gym, we’ll have the band, the orchestra and the choirs present their songs and tribute to the veterans,” he said. “We’ve got a great guest speaker lined up. Junior ROTC will be there. It’s a wonderful program.”

He praised his students for coming out Friday to perform.

“What I have noticed about this group is that they are so dedicated,” he said. “They enjoy coming down even during hours outside of band class to perform and I thought that this would be a wonderful opportunity and being November, it’s a wonderful opportunity to thank our veterans and our servicemen and women.”

“I think this is a great thing that Warsaw does on First Friday and having these students use their talents to enrich the lives of others is amazing, so I’m very proud of them,” he added, mentioning he hoped to bring the students out to perform at other First Fridays in the future.

Mini fair

People could also view a detailed model of a county fair created by Greg Steffe that includes rides, fairgoers and livestock barns all in miniature. The fair was set up in KeyBank’s lobby downtown.

People could give freewill donations while there to The Salvation Army.

“What got me into this is I’ve always had a great love of going to the fair when I was a kid,” said Steffe of creating the model. “I mean I just absolutely live for fair week and eventually I spent 21 years with the fair board. I was on the board of directors for seven years, so I have a lot of very close friends in the outdoor amusement business and I’ve just always loved being around this stuff, so I started doing this about 35 years ago … building this right here. I kind of combined my love for model building (with) my passion for this, and here we are.”

He’s also built model cars and a circus. Steffe created the fair using kits as well as designing from scratch.

He said he wanted it to bring nostalgia for those who viewed it.

“I just hope it brings back some memories of the fair as it used to be, a few of them still are,” he said.

Students from Lakeview and Edgewood middle schools performed patriotic songs as a preview of their upcoming Veterans Day concert on Thursday, Nov. 11. Directing them is Joe Peloza.

Greg Steffe created this model of a county fair over the past 35 years. It was in KeyBank’s lobby downtown and people could give freewill donations to The Salvation Army when they viewed it.

Playing cornhole run by Warsaw Evangelical Presbyterian Church are Emily Gough, left, and Sean Smith.

Chase Arevalo plays the ring toss at Grace Village’s booth. She won a bottle of Mountain Dew for her success.

Peter Morton slides down the inflatable run by Warsaw Evangelical Presbyterian Church.

Payton Scheeren watches her coin disappear into Combined Community Services’ wishing well.