Saint Albans, VT - Saint Paul’s United Methodist Church held a Hulapalooza* on Friday, June 29th from 2 to 5 pm in downtown Taylor Park. The Hulapalooza took place at Kids Fest, a family friendly summer kickoff event to promote access to local community resources for families and children. A perfect opportunity to promote Abundant Health!

A professional hula hoop instructor showed kids and adults how to hula hoop. Many in the community came by to hula hoop their way to abundant health. Some could hoop quite fast and one young lady worked three hoops at once! The kids also enjoyed playing hoop games or trying hoop tricks with their hands, feet or head!
 
There were giveaways to keep kids active – jump ropes, glider planes and paddle balls, and a “commit to be fit” youth bracelet to remind the kids to stay active, all in patriotic colors. Toddlers had fun playing a lawn hoop game, tossing small hoops onto posts and receiving hand clappers for participating. Hula hooping characters on coloring pages were also available for the taking. Parents received an Everyday Life Survival Kit**.

 Saint Paul’s UMC is a missional church and they thought it was important to include a mission, so children had the option of coloring greeting cards for nursing home residents. Some made more than one! It was a very hot day - 88 degrees. But thankfully, we missed the 6-day heat wave that began the next day AND we had a great spot in the shade by the beautiful water fountain in Taylor Park.

View the photo album for more pictures!

* Hulapalooza, which launched April 7, 2018, in conjunction with United Nations’ World Health Day, was initially celebrated at four global sites: New York City, Berlin, Rock Hill, South Carolina, and Zimbabwe. Hulapalooza is one expression of the Abundant Health movement, the global health initiative of The United Methodist Church, led by the Global Health unit of Global Ministries. (Click on the links for more information.)
 
**EVERYDAY LIFE SURVIVAL KIT 
Pencil: List your blessings every day.
Mint: You are worth a mint to your family and friends
Toothpick: Pick the good qualities in everyone including yourself.
Rubber Band: Be flexible. Things might not always go the way you want.
Candy Kiss & Hug: Everyone needs a kiss or a hug or a compliment every day.
Eraser: Everyone makes mistakes. That’s okay, we learn by our mistakes.
Band-Aid: To heal hurt feelings, either yours or someone else's.
Bubble Gum: Stick with it and you can accomplish anything.
Tea Bag: Relax daily and go over your list of blessings.

Photos and article by Debbie LeBlanc, Administrative Assistant at St Paul's UMC, St Albans Vermont