At a gathering in Elizabethtown last year, a group of friends began brainstorming ways to help the community. "I did some research, because I'm not originally from Elizabethtown, and I realized E-town is known for candy and shoes," recalled Nadinne Ziegler. "I asked a friend, 'Do you think shoes would be needed for people in the community?'" She connected with Jenn Fields, a social worker for Elizabethtown Area School District (EASD), and learned clothing was needed, too.

From there, Ziegler assembled a group of volunteers from her church to organize Threads & Treads. The event will be held at Christ Church United Church of Christ, 247 S. Market St., Elizabethtown, on Saturday, July 20, from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Activities at Threads & Treads will include food, music by DJ Jimmy Jamm, a dunk tank featuring local celebrities, a bounce house, giveaway baskets, a bake sale, balloon art and face painting.

"We're going to have mini cheerleading clinics by the girls' cheer squad at Elizabethtown High School," Ziegler said. "We're also going to have lots of lawn games like cornhole and some larger-size lawn games as well."

Three food vendors will be on-site, said committee member Linda Munafo. "We reached out to local churches," she stated. "We're very lucky here in E-town to have several churches with their own traveling food trucks. We have the St. Peter's Catholic Church Fryers coming. We also have Christ Evangelical Lutheran Church with their rolling root beer truck. One of our members will be here with the Philly Cheesesteak Co. on the Roll." Popcorn and baked goods with also be for sale.

Proceeds from the event will go into a fund the church has created to pay for shoes and clothing needed by EASD students. Along with sales of food and basket giveaway tickets, money has been raised through donations from local businesses and event sponsors. The event's platinum sponsors are DDMP Investment Advisors and Christ Evangelical Lutheran Church. The gold sponsor is Vision Source Signature Eye Care.

When staff members at EASD schools see a need for shoes or clothing for students, they will contact Christ Church, where money from the fund will be used to purchase items.

Joining Ziegler, Munafo and Fields on the Threads & Treads committee are Diane Kretzing, Don Martin, Dave Andrick and Barb Reeser.

Putting the event together and working with Fields has been an eye-opening experience, Munafo said. "We really did not know the depth of the need in this community," she shared. "It was kind of stunning to hear that a little over 40% of people in the school district are living below the federal poverty line."

Ziegler said the committee hopes to make Threads & Treads an annual event. "To know that there were that many kids who need that much, it surprised us," Ziegler said. "We know that there are clothing banks available, but they are not always accessible to students during the day or to their parents. The school support staff and teachers see the need firsthand, and they'll get in contact with us. ... We are touching a need in the community."