(WNY News Now) – Friendship families can discover enriching, affordable summer options for children—some completely free—during a public luncheon hosted by area churches.
FRIENDSHIP, NY – Area residents will learn about free and greatly reduced-cost summer opportunities for kids next week during a free monthly luncheon for the public.
The Wednesday, May 21, activity, hosted by the What God is Doing in Friendship ny alliance of churches, is held at The Mission House family center, site of the former St. Andrew’s Episcopal Church, offices and rectory at 28-32 East Main Street.
Reservations are required for the noon to 1:30PM meal and presentation at WhatGodisDoing@outlook.com or (585) 664-9989 by noon of the day before the event.
Scott Szalay, executive director of Gil’s Hills Ministries of Wellsville will discuss four, free weekly camps offered for seven through 17-year-olds in July, while Rick Snavely and Jim Hy of
Family Life Network (FLN) radio in Bath will preview a week-long Youth Theatre Workshop being held the same month at Friendship Central School.
Gil’s Hills, which also offers an after-school ministry for girls and boys in two age brackets during the school year, will be conducting the camps, available on a first-come, first-served basis, from July 7-10 or July 28-31 for girls and July 14-17 or 21-24 for boys.
The facility, which oplened some 75 years ago, is located on a 120-acre site at 2526 Brown Road, which includes wooded hills, a boating pond, gymnasium, small cafeteria, rustic cabins and teen loft hangout.
Some 100 children are able to be served through an annual Adopt-a-Camper Fund, with camp registrations available at https://tinyurl.com/Gils-Hills-Summer, and further information at szalays74@gmail.com or (585) 593-6211.
For the FLN Youth Theatre Camp, Friendship School District children, ages 8-15, are able to save over 80 percent on the regular-priced enrollment through the end of May.
The annual event, this year entitled The Warrier’s Journal, is provided in 15 locations in New York and Pennsylvania by the nonprofit Christian broadcasting system, including Friendship, site of its longtime WCOV 89.1FM station.
Snavely will provide background on the history of the Friendship location, one of the first three expansions of the original station in Bath more than 35 year ago. FLN now holds more than 70 station licenses in the two states.
Registration for Friendship School District students is $20 through Friday, May 30, versus $89 for those from other areas through the end of this month and $109 starting June 1.
Friendship district registrations must be made direct with FLN at (800) 927-9083 between 9AM to 4PM weekdays, with the Friendship Student Scholarship identified at the time of enrollment.
Further information about the workshop, which will culminate in a free noon public performance on Friday, July 25, along with general registration, is available at https://tinyurl.com/2025-Youth-Theatre-Workshop.
During the event, youth will learn song, dance, acting skills, and biblical principles with the theme of this year’s workshop being a story about a queen seeking out a powerful weapon to protect her kingdom from attack.
Wednesday’s free luncheon is part of an ongoing monthly series by participating Friendship churches to help build awareness about various missions and missionaries, from local activities to those occurring around the world.
Ongoing updates about the alliance is available at https://tinyurl.com/God-in-Friendship-FB, WhatGodisDoing@outlook.com or (585) 664-9989.
Leave a Reply