FCSS and the Town of Milk River have purchased a NeighbourGOOD Trailer

Posted on July 13, 2023 by Vauxhall Advance

By Garrett Simmons
FCSS Communications

There are about to be some good times in the NeighbourGOOD this summer!

Family and Community Support Services and the Town of Milk River has purchased a NeighbourGOOD Trailer, stocked with all of the necessary ingredients to host a successful event. This trailer was funded by the Community Priorities Fund grant from the Community Foundation of Lethbridge and Southwestern Alberta.

The trailer will be out and about all summer at community events, parades and celebrations, as its maiden voyage included a stop at the Coutts community parade.

Kelly Lloyd, Chief Administrative Officer, is looking forward to the positivity that the trailer will bring to the community. “The Town of Milk River is excited about this project as it helps to create neighbourliness in the area and bring people together,” she said. “The great thing about the trailer is that this is truly a collaborative effort to spread joy throughout the region.”

The colourful trailer comes ready with family-friendly games, tables and chairs, a cooler and other elements that will eventually allow locals to use the trailer to host larger events such as block parties.

“This year, we’re taking it around our communities to demonstrate that it’s out there. Next year, however, people will be able to book it through FCSS to use it for their events,” said Weaver.

Charleen Davidson, Executive Director of the Community Foundation of Lethbridge and Southwestern Alberta, added the trailer will be a fantastic community resource.

“We are proud to support the NeighbourGOOD Trailer with a grant from our Community Priorities Fund,” she said. “The trailer is a collaborative effort between multiple communities that will benefit everyone living in those communities for years to come. Through the many events and celebrations it will host, the trailer will foster a strong sense of belonging, community and fun.”

Jarred Meyerink, Youth Development Co-ordinator for FCSS, said the games such as giant Jenga, giant Connect 4, cornhole and ladder toss, were a big hit in Coutts, along with the prizes.

“It was a lot of fun, and we have a few different ideas about what to add next,” he said. “The best part of the trailer is the convenience. It’s really easy to set up.”

Weaver added the contents of the trailer will greatly depend on community input and community need, and could change from event to event. And with 16 communities in the FCSS coverage area, the trailer will represent a single location for the organization to store its event supplies.

“The fact that it also doubles as a parade float is a bonus,” according to Weaver, who added the NeighbourGOOD trailer will be utilized for at least eight parades this summer.

“FCSS is out there working to make our communities better places, and the trailer is just the physical proof of that,” said Weaver. “The summer is also a time where some organizations – like schools – are typically closed. The trailer is proof FCSS is available throughout the summer and that people can access our services when they need them.”

And while FCSS will put the trailer to good use in 2023, Weaver added that the online booking system will be up and running soon. This will allow communities to make use of it next summer.

The trailer’s next stop was at Centennial Park in Grassy Lake on July 12. Next, the trailer will be stopping in the Town of Milk River at the Kinsmen Park for an ‘Open House’ event. On July 27, from 1:00 – 3:00 pm, residents of Milk River will be able to play games, eat snacks, have fun, and explore the trailer.

For more details about the NeighbourGOOD Trailer, please contact Weaver at Kaitlynn.Weaver@fcss.ca or (403) 795-4627.