The Living In One Neighborhood (LION) Bash returned to State College on Thursday to bring together the campus and local community for an evening of fun and connection.
A partnership between the State College Borough and Penn State, the block party and resource fair on the 100, 200 and 300 blocks of South Allen Street also served as a showcase for community organizations.
Dozens of nonprofits and local businesses lined the street to offer giveaways and information to new and longtime residents and students
Free Mom Hugs,an organization composed of parents who go to community events and offer free hugs to anyone who would like one, was among them.
“Many people are in need of a hug,” Lori Dundon, a volunteer with Free Mom Hugs, said. “Sometimes, kids will lose their parents when they come out and that is very isolating. Some kids are also away from home and miss their parents. We are here to show that they are loved so if anyone would like a parent hug we are here for you. We also respect people’s boundaries, so if someone is not comfortable with receiving a hug, we do fistbumps or whatever they feel comfortable with.”
Happy Valley Adventure Bureau (HVAB) is the official destination and tourism promotion center for Centre County. It has many resources that not only tourists can use, but also locals as well.
“We sponsor a lot of businesses and travel within the county,” Lesley Kistner, public relations director for HVAB, said. “A lot of tourists use our resources but we are also a great resource for locals as well.”
State College Young Professionals (SCYP) is an organization for professionals that are in their 20s and 30s that are out of college but are not settled down yet with families in State College.
“State College is such a transient area and our organization is a great first introduction for life outside of college and still being involved with the community,” Matt Weiss, a SCYP volunteer, said. “We have social events, sports leagues and have programs for career and personal development.”
One of the newer organizations in attendance was Strong Towns Happy Valley, the local branch to the national Strong Towns organization.
“We advocate for more inclusive and walkable city designs,” Jackson Henry, Strong Towns Happy Valley volunteer, said. “This includes better public transportation, better zoning laws and parking.”
Many other organizations that also participated in Lion Bash. Each year brings approximately 150 engagement stations together and provides participants information on how they can serve the community and how community members can help give back.
In addition to the engagement stations, there were food vendors and live entertainment at the event as well.
