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Free community event brings over 70 families together 

 

TRYON—Gather Community hosted its second annual Glow Night at Harmon Field on Saturday, August 13. The free family event featured glow-in-the-dark frisbee golf, cornhole, volleyball and basketball. 

Despite late afternoon thunderstorms, Glow Night went off without a hitch underneath an approving rainbow at the open-air gym at Harmon Field. The event offered the opportunity for families, and especially young people in grades 5-12, to have a last night of fun before school began. And for some, it was a chance to get in a round of disc golf for the first time. 

Over 70 families signed up to attend, improving significantly from last year, when 41 registered. While the rain kept some away, the event was still a big success for the Gather Community. This organization seeks to fill in the gaps in local youth programming by creating safe spaces and programs for young people to socialize and be active. 

“We’re glad the weather decided to cooperate, and I’m excited by the turnout,” says Steve Martinez, founder of Gather Community. “I appreciate the response from the community, especially from our volunteers, sponsors and corporate partners.”

This is the final event of the summer for the organization, which held two successful Hoopz basketball tournaments in July. Edney Orthodontics, Tryon Presbyterian, Big Brothers and Big Sisters and Polk County Parks and Recreation sponsored the night of family fun. 

“Steve and I’ve worked together on several projects in the past, so when he invited us back again this year, it didn’t take much persuading,” says Laura Baird, Recreation Coordinator at Polk County Parks & Recreation, who supervised the glow-in-the-dark frisbee golf. 

“Steve invited us to participate, and so we took the opportunity to inform people about our program,” added Jessica Spivey-Toney, Program Coordinator of BBBS of Polk County. “We also provided information at our table for families on the important issues of mental health and substance misuse.”

Martinez added that free events like Glow Night are a unique way to engage with members of the community.

“With events like this, we are taking a transformational approach to working in the community, not a transactional one.”

For more information on how to support or get involved with Gather Community, contact Martinez at gatherasonecommunity@gmail.com.