Since its debut in Nakusp in 2009, Kootenay Savings’ Annual Family Movie in the Park has grown in popularity year after year, and this past Saturday’s event was no different, with a record number of movie-goers flocking to the Arena Soccer Field for an evening of great family fun. The warm weather certainly helped draw more people out; it was a beautiful night.
The free community event saw an estimated 450 attendees - from newborns to great grandparents - come out to enjoy an exceptionally warm September evening and take in the hit movie ‘Kung Fu Panda 2’ under the stars, on a three storey tall inflatable movie screen.
In place of an admission fee, all attendees were encouraged to bring along a non-perishable food donation for the Nakusp Food Bank to help stock the food bank’s shelves as the Thanksgiving and Christmas holidays approach.
“We collected nearly 500 pounds of food this year alone, bringing the total we’ve collected over the past three years of movie nights to over a tonne,” shared Aron Burke, Community Relations Coordinator for Kootenay Savings. “To put on an event that caters to kids, and hopefully helps teach them the importance of giving back to their community by making a donation to the food bank is something we take great pride in.
This truly is a community event and to see so many smiling faces and hear so many positive comments is very inspiring. ”
Movie Night also provided an opportunity for Stepping Stones Children Centre to raise some much-needed funds by selling popcorn, chips and homemade goodies at the field, and by the time the movie’s final credits rolled nearly $400 had been raised for the centre.
Seeing how well-received the movie nights have been, and how much fun all the kids at the park were having, 2012 events are already being planned.
There will definitely be a return engagement in Nakusp. It’s the most fun, and most rewarding community event Kootenay Savings is involved in, and the feedback for the community and the food bank has been tremendous.