By CAT SMITH

BULLHEAD CITY–Food, fun and kids was the theme Wednesday night at Buffalo Wild Wings.

Local resident Brittany Sterk brought her two daughters, Tabitha, 6, and Taylor, 8, to the Community Day event after seeing it promoted on Facebook.

“We came out to show our support for the community,” said Sterk.

The restaurant chain teamed up with the Boy’s and Girl’s Club of the Colorado River as part of their Community Day 2018. Ten percent of Buffalo Wild Wings food sales benefited the local non-profit organization.

“We had a great turnout,” said BGCCR Chief Executive Officer Autumn Boyle-Robinson. “The preliminary estimate is that we raised about $1,300.”

The event included a variety of activities for all ages.

Sterk’s daughters found fun with the Milemarker’s rope throwing game, while some waited in line to get their faces painted by Brittney Crank, owner of Face Painting by Brittney. Another eye-catcher was headed up by the Bullhead City Fire Department, who brought their 1938 vintage fire truck. Kids got the opportunity to dress down in fire gear and sit behind the wheel of the fire engine.

“We have seen about 20 kids come by and check out the truck so far,” said Lori Viles, fire department public information officer.

Attendees were treated to live entertainment by the ClassAct Band. The event included raffle drawings at the BGCCR booth, balloon creations by local magician Michael Rovno, Quality Time Entertainment, Rickety Cricket Brewing, bounce houses by Suzi’s Bounce Rentals, Findlay Chevrolet and Patriot Security Systems.

With Community Day now over, Boyle-Robinson said next on the agenda for the BGCCR is the groundbreaking and construction of their new playground. The day-long event will begin at 8:30 a.m. Saturday, April 21 with a kick-off ceremony; 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. will be the playground construction; 1 p.m. to 2:30 p.m. final phase of playground construction and 2:30 p.m. to 3 p.m. will be the ribbon cutting.

Over 200 volunteers have already signed up to help with the construction, including Sterk and her daughters.

“Play is essential to physical, creative, cognitive, social and emotional development. Currently, the Boys & Girls Clubs of the Colorado River serves over 1,300 children per year and gives them a safe and fun place to play, climb and imagine,” said Robinson “Through this project, the Boys & Girls Clubs of the Colorado River will work with Fiesta Bowl Charities, EPCOR and KaBOOM! to make a difference in their community and address the most urgent needs of kids.”

The event is sponsored by EPCOR, as part of the Fiesta Bowl Charities 2017-18 grant cycle, Fiesta Bowl Charities granted KaBOOM! funding to help build this playground, the fifth built in Arizona by Fiesta Bowl Charities and KaBOOM!. Fiesta Bowl Charities supports KaBOOM! in promoting and protecting a child’s right to active play at home, at school and in the community, said Robinson.

The Boy’s & Girl’s Club of the Colorado River is located at 2250 Highland Road in Bullhead City.

Photos by CAT SMITH/The Bee