Community Heroes: Tara Chadwell inspires kids and families to play during Fun Fest

KINGPSORT, Tenn. (WJHL) — A lot of planning goes into making Fun Fest successful each year. It takes many people to organize dozens of activities. This week’s Community Hero is a long-time organizer of Kids Central, and she does it outside of her main job.

Tara Chadwell stays busy this time of year. Not with her day job at Niswonger Children’s Hospital, but as the organizer of Kids Central at Fun Fest.

“I think what’s great is I’m from this community, I’ve always been active in the community, I’ve been able to be part of wonderful groups of organizations that do fantastic work through the organizations in the community, and I wanted to be a part of that,” she said.

For around ten years, Kids Central has been a labor of love for Chadwell. Kids and grownups get to be active and have fun while learning.

“It’s really throwing out the financial income ability or you don’t need the money to come here. It’s free, it’s fun, it’s active, be engaged, get all the education,” she said. “They don’t even know that they’re getting the education because they’re having so much fun. It’s just the smiling faces that make it worth it.”

She says it’s worth it when she sees kids and their family members engaging in fun activities. More importantly, they’re doing it together.

“If you can get kids wanting to get active and move, have fun, and be outside, they’re naturally going to ask their parents, or their caregiver, or their grandparents or siblings to do the same.”

Chadwell says being together doing fun activities has a positive affect on mental, physical and emotional health; and contributes to the well-being of the family unit and the community.

“We’re never too old to play. We’re never too old to get down on the kids’ level and have fun and get dirty and have some fun.”

And in true Fun Fest style, Chadwell looks forward to growing the event each year.

“I live here. I’m a Kingsport girl,” she said. “So I think this is the best festival of the entire area.”

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