Page 8 THE VILLADOM TIMES II • August 17, 2011 Area Children help to design their own playground The children of Eva’s Village recently participated in “Design Day,” and created plans for a dream playground as part of a national initiative by the Kraft Foods Foundation and KaBOOM! The designs the children produded will serve as the basis for a new playground at Eva’s Village located on Main Street in Paterson. The new playground built in conjunction with Eva’s Village will serve more than 100 disadvantaged children every year. Currently, the children served by Eva’s Village do not have a safe playground within walking distance. Through a partnership with KaBOOM!, a national non-profit dedicated to saving play that builds playgrounds and promotes play in communities that lack adequate play areas, the Kraft Foods Foundation is providing the major funding for the new playground. On Oct. 6, Kraft employee volunteers will build the new playground at Eva’s Village. This will be one of five playgrounds that the Kraft Foods Foundation and KaBOOM! will build across the country during Delicious Difference Week as part of the company’s worldwide volunteer effort to promote healthy lifestyles and fight hunger. Last year, more than 20,000 employees volunteered in 56 countries in a variety of events aimed to meet the unique needs of each community. Founded by Monsignor Vincent E. Puma in 1982 as a response to the poor and homeless in Paterson, Eva’s At left: children draw their designs as interested adults look on. Right: Dimitria Jackson Village non-profit com- presents her concept. prehensive social service organization with a mission to feed the hungry, shelter the become the most respected anti-poverty program in New homeless, treat the addicted, and provide medical care to Jersey. It now includes 14 integrated programs housed in the poor with respect for the human dignity of each indi- numerous buildings spanning several city blocks in downvidual. Through almost three decades of service, Eva’s Vil- town Paterson. Eva’s Village holds four consecutive fourlage has established a unique record in facing community star ratings for sound fiscal management from Charity challenges and changing the lives of the hungry, homeless, Navigator, an independent non-profit monitor. Visit (http:// and addicted. It has grown from a simple soup kitchen to www.charitynavigator.org/) for additional information.