CAPTION: Ashlyn Franz (left) and Luke Eigsti from Central Christian School hand out oranges and bananas at last year’s United.Read.Connect! event at Gowans Stadium. The 2025 United.Read.Connect! event is on Saturday, May 3 from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at DCI Park in downtown Hutchinson. CREDIT RICHARD SHANK
By Emmie Amezola
United Way of Reno County is hosting the 4th annual United.Read.Connect! at DCI Park on Saturday, May 3, from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. DCI Park is located at 208 N. Main St.
Carla Stanfield, Director of Development at United Way of Reno County, said there is a little bit of something for everyone at the event. She said children will have the opportunity to receive free and new Scholastic books.
“We also support the Dolly Parton Imagination Library Program in our county so we’ll have books for a little bit younger than elementary-aged as well,” Stanfield said.
Field said the United.Read.Connect started as a book giveaway program. Over the last four years, the event has evolved into more of a resource fair.
“So I like to tell people you know when you remember the Scholastic Book fairs at school, right?” Stanfield said. “Well, this is like that, but free and in addition to the books, you have the opportunity to connect with about 30 community partners and learn about programs and services that are in our community on a free level but also anybody with a sliding scale program has been invited or just cost-efficient programming.”
Fun activities will be available for folks and children to participate in too. Activities will include a bouncy house, face painting, improv skits and a scavenger hunt.
Resources in attendance include the Magic Clothes Bus, the Reno County Food Bank Truck while supplies last and Touch-A-Truck with the Hutchinson Fire Department and Hutchinson Police Department. A taco truck and therapy dogs will also be in attendance.
“If you’ve got a young reader who’s maybe hesitant, they can read to a non-judgmental little puppy,” Stanfield said. “They are always a big hit.”
Other events will also be going on in downtown Hutchinson on Saturday. The Reno County Farmers’ Market will kick off its 40th anniversary season. The market will be open from 7:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. and is located at 103 W. 2nd Ave. The Cinco De Mayo Festival will be held at George Pyle Park from noon to 4 p.m. George Pyle Park is located at Ave B and Poplar St.
“So you can kind of make a whole day of it downtown,” Stanfield said.
Bart Kooiman / April 30, 2025
Love seeing Franz and Eigsti serving fruit!
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