Harper's Hut Summer Kickoff to honor lost Sand Springs foster kids
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The Harper's Hut Summer Kickoff is back for the third straight year and it promises to be as big as ever!
Harper's Hut Shaved Ice and Java opened in Sand Springs in 2014, and for the past three years they have kicked off the summer season with one of the biggest free parties around.
Every year there are inflatables, games, music, face-painters, and tons of great giveaways. Not only will Harper's be giving away "Sno Yo" cards for free snow cones, but they'll also be giving away "Cold Cards" for free shaved ice all summer long! This year there will also be a petting zoo and a classic cop car on scene for photos.
Green Country Federal Credit Union, Battman Collision Repair, Master Lube & Car Wash, Sand Springs Autosource, and Integrity Pest Management are all contributing to the festivities.
In the past the snow cones have been free during the Summer Kickoff. This year you'll have to pay for your snow, but it's going to a good cause. 100% of shaved ice sales will be donated to James Mission.
James Mission is a 501c3 nonprofit organization with locations in Tulsa and Nowata that helps provide care for orphans, widows, foster children, and displaced families. The Resource Center at James Mission provides clothing, shoes, toiletries, toys, and other household items. They have sizes ranging from preemie to 18 years old for boys and girls, summer and winter.
In addition to the physical needs they meet, they also offer a place for biological parents to have supervised visits with their children in DHS custody and offer connections, resources, and training for long-term relief. On average, they provide for 60 children a week.
According to Oklahomafosters.org, more than 9,500 children in the State of Oklahoma are in DHS custody, and approximately 2,000 of those children are waiting to be adopted.
In 2014 a Sand Springs police officer and his wife lost a two-year old girl they were fostering in an accidental drowning. This past year, a Glenpool officer who lives in Sand Springs and his wife also lost a child. Harper's reached out to those families to see how they could help and were put in contact with James Mission.
Harper's Hut aims to make as big of a contribution as possible to help James Mission care for these kids and wants to invite anyone and everyone to attend their party. The Summer Kickoff is being held in memory of Teagyn Rose and Corey, the two children who were lost. Harper's has previously named a snow cone after Teagyn, called the "Busy Rose."
This year's event will be held Saturday, June 3rd from 12:30 p.m. to 10:00 p.m.
Harper's Hut is located at 1124 East Charles Page Boulevard in Sand Springs, next to the Cinema 8.
