By Claire Cutting

Bellbrook High School was filled with laughter, music, and community spirit as the Supportive Peers program hosted its annual Spring Fling on Saturday, April 12. The event ran from 10 a.m. to noon and was free and open to the public.

Organized entirely by student volunteers, the two-hour event featured a variety of different activities for children of all ages. From face painting and remote-controlled car racing to crafts, stuffed animals, music, and even an inflatable obstacle course, there was something there for everyone. A special guest appearance from the Easter Bunny along with a festive Easter egg hunt added even more fun to the event.

Junior Aly Tungol, a Supportive Peers volunteer, helped run the face painting station and found the experience to be incredibly fulfilling. 

“I loved volunteering at the Spring Fling because when I painted the kid’s faces, they lit up,” Tungol said. “The kids brought so much joy to the event, and it just goes to show you how rewarding the Supportive Peers program is.”

The event’s Easter Bunny was played by student volunteer junior Josiah Wolverton, who fully embraced the character by hopping from place to place, taking pictures with children, and gifting them stuffed animals along the way. 

“It’s not about my enjoyment, it’s about the kid’s enjoyment,” Wolverton said. “That being said, seeing the kid’s smiles when I had that Easter bunny costume on was heartwarming and 100% worth it.”

Even students outside the Supportive Peers program stepped in to lend a hand. Junior Caden Fromm volunteered at the remote control car station, helping guide kids through a homemade racetrack in the gym. 

“I had a really fun time at the Spring Fling and enjoyed it,” Fromm said. “I really liked helping with the remote control cars because it gave the kids something to do, and I could see that they had a lot of fun doing it.”

Fourth grader Haylee Walters was one of the many young attendees who had a blast at the event. 

“I had so much fun,” Walters said. “My favorite things were the crafts or the inflatable maze.”

This year’s Spring Fling marked the final large-scale Supportive Peers event of the school year, but more community events will be taking place this summer. 

If interested in learning more about the Supportive Peers Program and future events, you can find them on Instagram @bellbrooksupportivepeers, or Facebook by searching Bellbrook Supportive Peers.