Kids enjoy food and games at the Kids Turkey Jam

Tracy Tucholski

Dion Mason, 5, jumps to his chair as the music stops during a game of musical chairs at the Kids Turkey Jam hosted by Omega Psi Phi fraternity last night. “I almost won. I got three chairs, and I almost won,” he said. TRACY TUCHOLSKI | DAILY KENT STATER

Credit: DKS Editors

Children of all ages gathered in Room 204 of the Student Center last night for hot dogs, musical chairs and face painting, among other activities. The brothers of Omega Psi Phi hosted their fifth annual Kids Turkey Jam as part of a series of activities leading up to a Founder’s Day celebration Saturday.

About 20 children, mainly from the King-Kennedy Community Center in Ravenna, participated in the event.

Daron Henderson, Kent State graduate and campus adviser for Omega Psi Phi, said it was a a chance to give underprivileged children something to do.

Martin Martin II, senior applied communications major and vice president of Omega Psi Phi, said the children had an opportunity to play games such as musical chairs, Simon says and a dance and karaoke contest.

“It’s a fun atmosphere where kids can run around,” Martin said. “It’s an educational and more relaxing event for the kids.”

The fraternity brothers hosted this event as a part of their mandated community service hours, but they also like working with children.

“I’m from a family-orientated environment, and all this comes natural to me,” Martin said. “I enjoy it.”

Aside from the King-Kennedy Community Center children, some Omega Psi Phi members and other volunteers brought their children to the event.

Jodi Robinson, sophomore political science major and four-year King-Kennedy Community Center volunteer, brought her three children to Kids Turkey Jam. She tries to attend all the field trips the children go on as long as she isn’t in class, she said.

“It’s nice to do things with the kids because a lot of parents can’t help out,” Robinson said.

In between games, the children laughed and danced around as music blared over a loud speaker. Other children ate hot dogs and sweets in chairs that lined the windows.

“It makes the kids happy,” Martin said. “It’s fun.”

Contact Greek life reporter Tracy Tucholski at [email protected].