The 27th Annual Federation Day is Sunday, March 16, from 10 AM – 5 PM, at Boscov’s in downtown Wilkes-Barre.

Antique experts will be appraising your treasures from 10:30 AM to 1:30 PM.  There will be activities going on all day including; a Health Fair, face painting, homemade food, bake sale, Hillside Farms ice cream, flea market table, handmade crafts, and a basket raffle.  Sponsored by the General Federation of Women’s Clubs of Luzerne County to benefit “Project KinderGarden”, an educational/agricultural learning experience for kindergarten students in conjunction with The Lands at Hillside Farms.

Here is some background information to explain our activity.

Federation Day Funds to Help Project KinderGarden Grow!

On Sunday, March 16, Boscov’s Dept. Store in Wilkes-Barre will be ablaze with more than usual activity as the General Federation of Women’s Clubs of Luzerne County converge for their 27th Annual Federation Day. For the last 27 years, women from all over Luzerne County have joined together with one goal in mind, to raise funds for a worthwhile charity or activity that will enhance the lives of fellow Luzerne County citizens.  This year’s Federation Day will benefit Project KinderGarden.  

Project KinderGarden is a collaborative effort among Luzerne County-based school districts, the PA Department of Agriculture, and The Lands at Hillside Farms. The focus of this program is to use funding available through the Department of Agriculture's Health Farms/Healthy School initiative that enhances state agriculture curriculum mandates by encouraging collaboration between Pennsylvania farms and their local schools. For the 2007-08 school year, The Lands at Hillside Farms is partnering with 38 kindergarten classes from Wilkes-Barre Area, Dallas, Lake Lehman, and Wyoming Valley Montessori School (with a planned expansion for 2008-09 to include any interested districts in Luzerne County). Program activities include hands-on dairy farm curriculum (confirming to and exceeding PA Department of Education standards) with a visit to the farm, as well as the creation of a garden for each school that will be used to teach nutrition and healthy eating to area Kindergarteners. The program ends with a family day on the farm in May/June to celebrate the program. Funds raised on Federation Day will support the 25% local match required for this program and will help offset program costs associated with developing the gardens for each participating school.

This year’s activities will run from 10 AM to 5PM and will include a Health Fair with blood pressure and bone density screening, home made food, bake sale, flea market table, hand made crafts, a basket raffle and Hillside Farms ice cream .  Larry and Diane Cook, antique appraisers from The Antique Center in Plains will be on hand to evaluate and appraise your treasures for a fee of $10 for up to 4 items.  Pete, the Pioneers Mascot, will be available to meet, greet and pose for photos with the youngsters before the parade.  Entertainment will be on hand during the day.  Plan on stopping into Boscov’s either before or after the St. Patrick’s Day Parade and help support Project KinderGarden.

Previous recipients included Domestic Violence, Hospice St. John, a river rescue boat, trailer and equipment for the Luzerne County Sheriff’s Dept., American Diabetes Association, the Kirby Center Marquee, ARC, REACH, Make-A-Wish, Alzheimer’s Association, SPCA, Child Development Council, Victim’s Resource Center, Wyoming Valley Children’s Assoc., S.A.F.E., Catherine McAuley House, U.R.S., VISION, Salvation Army, Special Olympics, St. Vincent DePaul Soup Kitchen, Habitat for Humanity, Ready to Learn, and Wyoming Valley Alcohol and Drug Services, Inc., for a total of over $375,000 benefiting Luzerne County organizations.