Pink Arrow Community Day / West End Reveal Happening Friday

Pink Arrow Pride will host their Community Day alongside open house style showcases of two new establishments on the west end of Lowell.  In addition to regular Community Day activities, visitors will be able to tour the new Impact Church building and explore Lowell Charter Township’s North Grand River Riverfront Park.  This year Pink Arrow Pride kicks off with Pink Arrow Community Day: West End Reveal, happening on Friday, August 23. The event started at the grounds of Gilda’s Club in Lowell but moved to the Riverwalk in recent years due to outgrowing the space.  Another move is scheduled for this year with the event taking place at the new Impact Church campus in conjunction with activities taking place at the new Lowell Township Park along the north side of the Grand River.

Community Day Highlights

The day of the week and location for Pink Arrow Community Day both change this year.  The official kickoff leading to the 2019 Pink Arrow Game will take place on the grounds of Impact Church.  In the past the event has been held on a Thursday, but this year’s kickoff will happen on Friday, August 23.  Although school will be in session, this is already a scheduled day off for students.  

Health and wellness vendors will set up in the lobby of Impact Church so regardless of the weather conditions, visitors can learn about opportunities and events happening in Lowell to promote a healthy lifestyle.  A blood drive and the traveling mammogram bus will again be part of Community Day, setting up in Impact parking lot. Versiti Blood Center of Michigan (formerly Michigan Blood) will donate $10 a person to Gilda’s Club of Lowell at least 100 donations are given.  Appointments can be made by calling 866-642-5663 or visiting miblood.org. Those who wish to schedule an appointment with the mobile mammography bus can contact Betty Ford Breast Care Services at 877-495-2626.  KDL’s Bookmobile will also be on site.

And of course, this year’s t-shirts will be available for purchase.  Shirts will once again be $15 and serve as the ticket to activities taking place on Friday, September 13.  For each shirt sold during Community Day, All Weather Seal will donate $1 to Pink Arrow.  

Pink Arrow Hair Drive

New this year is a hair drive after Murray Lake first grade student Easton Dressander’s idea became a reality.  During Community Day, people will be able to drop off hair donations. Hair accepted should be placed in a ziplock bag and must be clean and dry and at least 8 inches in length with a rubber band or pony tail older on each end.  Non chemically treated hair is preferred (no bleached or highlighted hair) and a donation which is colored or permed is okay. Gray hair is also acceptable.  

Stylists will be on hand to snip hair to be used for donations during Community Day, however styling and other services will not be performed.  If you’re not able to drop off a donation during the event, Salon Station and Jultara Salon each have a donation box at their location which will be available through September 13.    

West End Reveal

Just to the east of Impact Church, visitors can explore the Don and Betty Yeiter Learning Cabin, learn about pickleball, play in the gaga ball pit, and check out the offerings at the park’s concession stand, which will be open and serving food throughout the event.  The new bridge which crosses the Grand River will also be open, starting with a ribbon-cutting ceremony at 10:30am, and able to be explored. The Cabus will provide free ice cream sponsored by Pink Arrow and Huntington Bank will be passing out popsicles.  

Serving the Community

Money raised through Pink Arrow Pride stays in the community.  In 2018, $51,500 was given to the Lowell Community Wellness Organization to provide teacher/student grants and to give Lowell families a monetary gift to help offset financial expenses.  A total of $72,000 was presented to Lowell Gilda’s Club to provide programming. Additionally, a portion of funds raised last year will be used to support two scholarships.  

Each year Perseverance Stories are shared from people in the community who have overcome cancer, are currently on a journey, or who experience grief due to the loss of a loved one.  These individuals and families are the reason why Pink Arrow Pride exists and is celebrating its 12th year.  

Important Dates and Times

If you’re unable to stop by Community Day: West End Reveal, t-shirts will also be available for purchase at all schools during lunchtime on select dates, Fans in the Stands, Heidi’s Farmstand & Bakery, MI Hometown Furnishing, and Springrove Variety through the morning of September 13.  

The Lowell community is invited to take part in this year’s Pink Arrow Community Day on Friday, August 23.  The event will take place at the new Impact Church location at 11840 Fulton Street. In addition to Community Day, the new Lowell Township Park will welcome visitors.  Also, tour the new Impact Church building while obtaining information from health and wellness vendors in their lobby. The day’s events will take place from 10am-7pm. Mark your calendar now for a fun-filled event!  

On game day, the Pink Arrow Community Parade will begin at 6pm followed by the Pink Arrow Force VII game Friday, September 13 against Greenville.  Gates will open at 2:30pm with visitors encouraged to come and watch Lowell take on Forest Hills in soccer at 3:45pm and Grand Rapids Christian in volleyball at 4:30pm. 

 

Editor’s Note: This article has been updated to include the 10:30am ribbon-cutting time for the Riverfront Park bridge.

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