PARKERSBURG - Hundreds of area children and parents gathered Monday for the fourth annual Youth Expo.
The event, held at the Elite Sports Center, gathered more than 20 vendors representing community and service organizations available in the Mid-Ohio Valley.
Stella Moon, RESA 5 coordinator for adolescent health, said the expo gives families the chance to learn what groups are available in the area.
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The fourth annual Youth Expo was Monday at the Elite Sports.
Kids also could enter to win prizes, including gift cards and an Xbox Kinect video game system, by visiting the booths at the event.
Moon said about 200 youth were expected at Monday's expo, which included displays from the Mid-Ohio Valley Health Department, Westbrook Health Services, the Parkersburg Art Center, West Virginia University Extension Service, the American Red Cross, Ohio Valley University, the Parkersburg YMCA and the Volunteer Action Center, among others.
4-H extension agent Jodi Smith said the expo was developed years ago after area parents indicated they did not know what programs and volunteer opportunities were available for area youths.
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About 200 youths were expected to attend Monday’s fourth annual Youth Expo at the Elite Sports Center in Parkersburg. (Photo by Michael Erb)
"Anytime we can get out and talk about our programs, we want to," Smith said.
"For us it is a way to raise awareness of our programs in the community."
Smith said the expo also is unique because it brings together so many different groups, covering everything from camp activities to health awareness to volunteer opportunities.
"Every organization here has something different to offer," she said.
