Franklin County Family Focus, 5-2-1-0 team up for summer challenge

As families continue to isolate with one another amid the COVID-19 pandemic, a Franklin County group is working to offer affordable summer fun.

Franklin County Family Focus recently rolled out its 5-2-1-0 Summer Challenge, a series of activities families can complete together and earn prizes. From now until August 31, families can print out the task sheet from the Family Focus Facebook page and complete activities on their own time. Participants are to take photos or videos of themselves as they complete tasks and upload those in the comment section of the pinned post on the Facebook page. Each picture or video can earn the poster a $25-50 gift.

Robin McKee, Service Coordinator with Community Services, which includes Family Focus, said the list of nearly 30 activities are simple projects that take just an hour or two. Activities range from going disc golfing and organizing an obstacle course to creating a game or attending a farmers market.

“We try to do simple ideas so they’re easy, not a multi-day thing and don’t cost a lot,” she said. “We’ve been doing things like this before COVID, but now more than ever, it’s important to reach out to families because people are isolated and don’t know where they can go or what they can do. We’re trying to give them ideas.”

McKee added that the activities can also be done by people of all ages, which allows families to complete the projects together.

“Some families have a number of kids and want to engage each child so they have something fun to do, so we’ve done that,” she said.

The prizes awarded for the activities were purchased through the 5-2-1-0 initiative, which awards communities funding for activities and equipment that promote healthier lifestyles. Michelle Sackville, who has worked with the local 5-2-1-0 program, said the prizes include fishing poles, tennis rackets and Frisbee golf sets.

Sackville said that the activity challenge is a perfect example of the mission of the 5-2-1-0 project, as it encourages people to be active within their communities while spending time with loved ones. It also challenges people to see and do things in the area they may have not done before.

“The pool and all that may not be open, but we still have a lot of great activities for families that are free and readily available,” she said. “We just wanted to offer something fun. We’re already into August and people are in the summer wind down, but people are still looking for something new and creative to do.”

Aside from the challenge, the Family Focus Facebook page also includes various crafts and recipes meant to promote togetherness and active, healthy lifestyles.

McKee said the mission of Family Focus is to be a presence for families that may need assistance and guidance. Whether it’s offering a family-building activity or advice, McKee said Family Focus is willing to help meet needs of families.

“We know that the days are long and we’re just trying to do anything we can to help families so they don’t feel like they’re alone,” she said.