USO Picnic for the Families of deployed Service Men and Women

The City of Gulf Breeze is going to provide a picnic for the families of deployed service men and women on September 29 at Shoreline South from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

They are looking for ideas, volunteers, etc. to help with the picnic. The first committee meeting to plan this "Picnic for families of those deployed" was held Tuesday, July 31 at 11:30 am at city Hall Council Chambers.

Members were asked to invite any others to this 'kick-off' meeting that may be interested in participating such as local civic groups. USO Center Director Heidi Blair and USO volunteer Hank Martin will be invited to attend and participate.

The plan was to identify the different areas of participation and get input for additional ideas. They are looking for someone to head the different features necessary for the success of the picnic; remembering that the rest of the committee will be there to support and consider additional suggestions.

The various areas of need seem to be:

. Food, purchasing it and volunteers to cook and serve

. Invitations, work with USO in "getting the word out" to the local families of deployed military

. Transportation, identify what type of transportation that may be needed to provide to families so they can participate and to locate ways to fill that need

. Games, organize picnic type games for adults and children such as volleyball, horseshoes, basketball, face painting and water bounce house

. Lifeguards, contact and schedule qualified volunteer life guards for the 4 hours; Children's parks,

. Volunteers to monitor the Children's Kids Park and skate park; and Prizes, collect 'door prizes' for adults and children from local businesses and organize the drawings.