Fathers celebrated at breakfast
Cody Hough, Micah Ferguson, Vicky Weidger and Josh Grossenbaugh enjoyed breakfast together Oct. 23, at Conesville Elementary School. Beacon photo by Josie McCormick
CONESVILLE – The most precious gift you can give a child is your time.
That was part of the message delivered to fathers and their children during the Coshocton County Fatherhood Initiative pancake breakfast held Oct. 22 and Oct. 23, at Conesville Elementary School.
Children and their father figures were treated to pancakes and sausage and the opportunity to play cornhole to win extra door prize tickets. They also listened to a presentation by Frank Polen, who is a father of two, the principal at Warsaw Elementary School and an advocate for the program.
“No one is more important than your father, your father figure or your family,” Polen said. “They are your heroes. They are the ones that each and every day encourage you and sometimes punish you when necessary.”
According to William Johnson, chairman of the Coshocton County Fatherhood Initiative, 51 fathers RSVP for Monday’s breakfast and 35 did for Tuesday’s.
“Our goal is to strengthen the family unit,” Johnson said. “If dads are responsible the child will stay a good citizen. It’s important for them to stay involved whether they are with the mom or not.”
Third grader Micah Ferguson was happy to spend the morning with Cody Hough who is engaged to his mom.
“He’s always there for me,” Ferguson said.
The pair enjoys playing video games with each other. Ferguson especially likes baseball and football games.
“It’s all about Playstation 3 and Guitar Hero,” Hough said. “He beats up on me.”
Josh Grossenbaugh attended the breakfast with his daughter Vicky Weidger, who is in the fifth grade at Conesville.
“It’s a wonderful event,” he said. “I came last year too and we also had a good time then.”
Weidger liked the extra time with Grossenbaugh.
“It’s cool to have him here,” she said. “He loves me.”
Zane Turner and his dad Dale also got breakfast before school started.
“We go fishing together,” Zane said. “It’s nice to spend time together.”
Dale also thought the breakfast was a good idea.
“I think it’s alright,” he said. “It’s pretty nice to come to school with him.”
The Fatherhood Initiative plans to do as many of the breakfasts as it can during the school year. They are working on the schools in the River View district right now and plan to contact more of them about the breakfasts as the year goes on.
New Bethel Ministries co-sponsored the breakfast, the River View football team helped with door prizes and the child support enforcement agency did a coloring contest that also included the chance to win prizes.
Josh Lahmers, who is the varsity football coach at River View, also took a minute to address the fathers who attend the breakfast.
“As a coach I spend a lot of time away from my children so I enjoy the time I do get to spend with them,” he said. “The fact that you are here shows that you care and you do make a difference in your child’s life.”
josie@coshoctoncountybeacon.com
Category: Clubs & Organizations, Education
