I love the fall. I’ve always enjoyed the excitement and anticipation of a new school year. In high school, I loved going to football games. Now, my attraction in the fall is the soccer season, the season that seems to matter more to youth soccer teams and also, the colleges are playing.
It brings back good memories of arriving at the stadium to watch my friends play under the lights and then heading out for food and good company afterward.
When I was in college, a friend and I used to play games on how much fun stuff we could do and not spend any money. We had lists that included watching the sunset at the beach, a recreational soccer game our friends played in a local park – or getting to the college games after they stopped charging entry fees – and festivals. What I found so attractive then – and still do – about the free events involving people is the excitement and special spirit of generosity the organizers have infused into the event, partly due to their time and extraordinary efforts to provide the entire community with a special and memorable day.
The next month provides a variety of activity that is not just free and entertaining, but edifying for us all as individuals and as a community.
On Sept. 29, the Taste of Morgan Hill kicks off the weekend. Sure, it’s fun and it’s free (well, mostly, if you don’t want to eat or drink what’s sold there), but the edifying part is the Morgan Hill Community Foundation’s Non-Profit Plaza. An idea pioneered by the Morgan Hill Community Foundation a few years ago, the plaza has attracted a variety of non-profits to provide outreach and education to the community in attendance. The Community Foundation provides a valuable service and generous support to local non-profits in the form of space, publicity, setup and materials. This year, the plaza will showcase the Community Substance Abuse Prevention Partnership, Silicon Valley Independent Living Center, Asians for a Better Community, Morgan Hill Access TV, God’s Great Outdoors, Morgan Hill’s Sister City Committee, the Downtown Association, the Dog Owner’s Group (DOG, get it?), the Wind Symphony, Pine Ridge Association, Habitat for Humanity, South County Disaster Preparedness Project, South Valley Symphony, South Valley Civic Theater, Teacher’s Aid Coalition and Town Cats.
In addition to providing the space, the Community Foundation included a small stage, during which the participating agencies will make presentations and teach more about what they do. While you learn about they do for you, maybe you can find out what you can do for them.
As the Taste winds down, head down south a bit further to the San Martin Lions Club on Murphy Avenue and take the local Muslims up on their invitation to come and enjoy with them a break of the Ramadan fast (see the announcement in the Digest of this paper). I participated in this with my friends back in Austin, and as I’ve told you before, I was impressed by the beauty of their faith. For many who only know about Islam through the articles in newspapers, this is a wonderful chance to have those burning questions answered. The local Muslim community has extended a hand to you to get to know it and the people it comprises. Detractors, as well as supporters, should take advantage of this opportunity.
Two weeks later, on Oct. 13 at the beautiful and historic site of 110-year-old Rebekah Children’s Services, the Health and Nutrition Committee of the South County Collaborative will put on the fourth annual Community Health Day. Though the target is uninsured people, the event benefits those who are underinsured, or have insurance, but don’t go to the doctor. On Nov. 13 free medical screenings, health workshops and visits with doctors will be offered.
This year, the day is part of a series of activities of the entire week of Oct. 6–13 that mark Bi-National Health Week, a bit of a misnomer, because now the United States and Mexico are joined by Canada, Honduras and Guatemala. With obesity prevention a priority, the day includes nutrition education for everyone, as well as activities for children.
More than 65 organizations participate in this day, translating into tens of thousands of dollars of services and activities, all for you and your neighbors.
These are on my Free and Fun list for this year. Hope to see you at all of them.
Columnist Dina Campeau is a wife, mother of two teens and a resident of Morgan Hill. Her work for the last seven years has focused on affordable housing and homeless issues in Santa Clara County. Her column is published every Friday. Reach her at
dc******@*****er.net.
