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WILKIE ‑ Eleven families turned up at St. James Church in Wilkie March 20 for a Family Faith and Fun Day.

The day, which featured a Lego Building Challenge, was the brainchild of Sarah and Jesse Natske, a couple with young children.

Sarah, who has been a pre-school teacher for nine years, had been involved in family fun days before and was anxious to get a group started in Wilkie. The couple saw the event as a way to get families back together after a couple of trying years.

Sarah approached Father Santosh at St. James about holding the monthly fun family days in the church basement. The event is for all families, the organizers say, no matter what denomination they are.

Those attending the first event were from Wilkie and district and even communities an hour away.

Wilkie Library supplied their Lego collection for the afternoon of fun.

When families arrived, their names were entered in a draw for door prizes and they were given instructions about what they could build. Sarah says the day wasn’t only about having fun, but also a learning experience.

The kids were asked to build something that could help others. When they were done, they were asked what they had built and how it can help others. The designs and reasons for building showed the kids understood what the project was all about.

There was a gym for exercising, a home for the homeless, classroom on wheels teaching kindness and practising how to drive, a farmyard because farms help feed the world and a wheelchair and ramp to help people who can’t walk. The imagination of the kids was amazing says Sarah.

The afternoon ended with snacks and the handing out of the door prizes.

Sarah, who teaches pilates, said half of the money paid by those who take the class goes to help put on the day.

“We are most definitely having more family days, with the next one scheduled for Saturday, April 16 with the Easter egg hunt, starting at 1:30 p.m.," Sarah says.

She is asking those interested to contact her on the St. James Family Faith Days Facebook page so she can determine participation numbers.

"I am looking forward to seeing lots of kids hunting for Easter Eggs. Everyone is most welcome.”