Hispanic Festival

Parker Road volunteers provide children's activities for The Fiesta in Florissant and The Greater St. Louis Hispanic Festival held in downtown St. Louis.

Eight block-party skill games, face painting and a lollipop tree are set up for the children.  Each child receives tickets, a tract and a brochure about Operation Christmas Child in a lunch sack.  All  monies raised are given to Samaritan's Purse for Operation Christmas Child.

As the children participate in the games, they receive a piece of candy or a small prize if they win.  All prizes and candy are provided by the Hispanic Festivals.  They also provide a large pinata which is broken in the late afternoon eacy day.  Each year, Parker Road works with an average of 100-150 children at these Festivals.

Valley of Flowers

The first full weekend in May is the celebration of the Valley of the Flowers.  The Festival includes the usual events such as Queen Contest, carnival rides, food vendors, a carnival midway and a parade.  The Parker Road contribution to the festivities is a Baby Changing Station.  The Station provides parents with a clean, sanitary place to change diapers during the Festival.

The Station has two port-a-cribs with plastic mattresses.  After each use the mattress is sanitized for the next baby.  Baby wipes and a plastic bag is furnished to each parent changing a baby.  Each parent also is offered a free copy of "Baby Life: The Baby's First Two Years," published by Lifeway.  Two volunteers serve two-hour shifts on Friday evenings, all day Saturday and Sunday.

Each year, the Baby Station ministers to about thirty babies and their families.