School has started, but that doesn’t mean summer has to be over.
DiscoverHOPE CDC and Destiny Church are hosting the 7th Annual DiscoverHOPE Family Fun Day on Saturday, Sept. 12 at Laurel Acres Park. The DHFFD will take place from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. at 1045 S. Church St. in Mt. Laurel, and it is free to participate. There will be family fun activities, food and merchandise vendors, and this year free clothing giveaways.
“It is a beautiful park, so we encourage people to bring chairs and bring family games; it is just a time to forget about everything else and focus on the family. Also it’s a last hoo-rah of summer,” said Jonathan Leath, pastor for Destiny Church.
Destiny Church, a non-denominational, family-focused church located in Moorestown, was started in 2007 by Leath and his family.
Destiny Church created DiscoverHOPE CDC, a community organization that focuses on developing youth to be successful leaders in life, in 2010. Through DiscoverHOPE, Destiny Church provides youth mentoring, training, leadership and development. It also helps those who are going through transition periods, such as between jobs, offering seminars and workshops. Leath not only is a pastor, but is also a life coach, using both of his skills to help others through the non-profit.
“Our nonprofit is a way for us to service everyone. Regardless of what you believe, we all have needs,” Leath said. “We’re able to meet the needs of others physically, mentally, emotionally and spiritually.”
Destiny Church, and eventually DiscoverHOPE CDC, started DHFFD in 2007 as a way to give back to the community. That year was at the height of the economic recession. Destiny Church wanted to bring hope back to the community, so it decided to start the DHFFD to help get people’s minds off their worries and to offer free food, fun and games for young families.
“The name came out of the idea for people not to lose hope. It is a celebration for families to take their minds off of bills and problems and have fun,” Leath said.
At DHFFD, there will be free food, games and giveaway prizes. There will also be food and merchandise vendors. One of the big appeals for DHFFD is the Amazin-Grace, a scavenger hunt/obstacle course, which goes throughout the park, and each group must work as a team to accomplish each task.
Each year, Destiny Church focuses on different needs in the community at the DHFFD, which has focused on critical issues such as hunger, illiteracy and health. It has given food boxes, collected books, given safety tips, promoted healthy eating and more.
For the seventh year, the focus is on back to school tips and giveaways. Leath, along with his family and other church members, will give tips on how to deal with back to school stress and helping children become more self-sufficient.
Some include making a morning checklist and sharing inspirational messages.
“Instead of cursing the darkness, light a candle and bring some hope back to our community. That is the reason for DiscoverHOPE,” Leath said.
Destiny Church saw school clothing for children as a need, as other groups were already putting together school supplies and offering free haircuts.
So at the DHFFD, there will be on-site shopping for children returning to school. They will give away shirts, shoes, coats, sweaters and undergarments to anyone in need.
Items include brands such as Abercrombie & Fitch and Aeropostale, all donated through a partnership with a Medford non-profit.
“These are brand new, never worn, and you may even see them in stores. We got them straight from the manufacturer, absolutely free,” Leath said.
When a family registers, they will receive a ticket, and once that ticket number is called, they will get a chance to shop.
This event is free and all are welcome, but registration is appreciated. Go to www.destinynj.org to sign up.
For more information, visit Destiny Church’s website, email info@destinynj.org, call (609) 386–3142 or attend a service. Destiny Church meets at the William Allen Middle School on Sundays at 10 a.m.
“We’d love to have you to visit. If you want to get more information, come to a service and check us out,” Leath said.
