On Saturday, Aug. 1, from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. the “Summer Festival” will kick off for its second year.  in the parking lot of Niles Plaza North located next to McDonalds. There will be games and prizes for the kids, and Ronald McDonald and the State Farm Bear will both be making appearances.

Some of the vendors attending include Lia Sophia, Connie McCain Fairy Houses, T-Shirt Booth, Avon,  YMCA,  Mary Kay, Riverbend Chorus, “Lest We Forget SWMI,” Pokagon Church, Pregnancy Care Center, American Legion Post 26 and 51, food vendors and much more.

A silent auction will also be held onsite and many local businesses have donated items for the auction.

From now until the day of the festival there will be a cash donation box at Mancino’s Italian Restaurant and during the festival until 3 p.m. they will be donating a portion of their food sales to help fund the “Wounded Warrior Project.”

Vendors can choose to donate or keep their proceeds, but many of the businesses in the Plaza will be donating their proceeds from the Summer Festival to support the “Wounded Warrior Project.” This organization provides backpacks filled with items that a wounded service man or woman needs when arriving at the hospital for care and recovery.

Wounded Warrior Backpacks contain essential care and comfort items including clothing, toiletries, calling card, CD Player, and playing cards, all designed to make their hospital stay more comfortable. They are provided to severely wounded service members arriving at military trauma centers who, many times, arrive with nothing.

A smaller version of the WWP Backpack, Transitional Care Packs, are sent directly to Iraq and Afghanistan to provide immediate comfort during a warrior’s relocation to the U.S. military trauma center.   So, to have some personal items to make them feel like a “normal” person makes a world of difference.

It is not too late to get in on the Summer Festival – there is vendor space available and they are always looking for volunteers as well as gracious benefactors and supporters.

If you would like more information or to donate an item for the silent auction please contact: 269-687-2500 or e-mail kutters9848@att.net.

You can view the website: Woundedwarriorproject.org.