Fall River Extends Supportive Hands (F.R.E.S.H.), a youth leadership group organized under the Mayor's Youth Council and the Healthy Youth Task Force, held a Fun-a-palooza party at the St. Vincent's Home on Highland Avenue on Saturday, October 27, 2007, the national Make a Difference Day. FRESH teens worked with St. Vincent's staff to organize a Monster Dash and a Fireball Throw in the gym and art projects in the game room downstairs. This project was one of several held throughout the city on that day as part of the America's Promise Challenge presented to the Fall River City Council on October 23rd. Click here to see photos of one of two FRESH car washes held earlier in the year to raise funds for the project. Click here to see pictures of last year's event and here for the event in 2005. For more information contact Fall River Youth Services Coordinator and Co-Chair of the Healthy Youth Task Force Christian McCloskey at 508-324-2419.

(Top row, left) St. Vincent's Lead Community-based staff member Roseanne Correia watches as kids try to get a ball into a milk can. (Top row, center) One of the party-goes models her mask as Yemi Oguntesi, manager of Cottage 8, leads kids in games in the gym. (Top row, right) Healthy Youth Task Force Co-chair Jamison Souza rolls a hula hoop toward one of the kids in his Ninja Turtle costume as America's Promise Fellow Ine Ogagan and FRESH team member Tatiyana Smith watch. (Middle row, left) Nichaolas Farias, Jennifer Benjamin and Tatiyana Smith decorate cookies that one of the kids is enjoying. (Middle row, center) Jennifer Souza paints the face of the kid in the Ninja Turtle costume with some turtle colors. (Middle row, right) Heather Grothe paints the face of another resident. (Bottom row, left) Karen Lanagan assists a young resident in painting a pumpkin. (Bottom row, center and right) Kristina Marchand helps another young boy with his painting project.