In some cases, relatives and friends are also involved.
Kayla Snider, community outreach and education specialist for Project Jericho, said the event is in its second year. She told me this year, they’re using characters from movies.
The scarecrows went up near the fountains at the Springfield City Hall Plaza last Friday, but unfortunately, the high winds blew them down over the weekend. Undaunted, several of the families came downtown Sunday and the scarecrows were all back in place on Monday.
The public has the chance to vote on the best scarecrows through Saturday. Ballots have been distributed around the community, and are available at the display as well. A movie night will be held at 7 p.m. Saturday, and everyone is welcome to bring lawn chairs and blankets to the City Hall Plaza and enjoy the film “Despicable Me,” along with popcorn and prizes.
The first, second and third-place winners will be announced at that time.
Sherry Ringler, lead artist on “Project Scare-A-Crow” calls it a “a family project and the one that works the best.” She adds the families have a great time working together to build their scarecrows. And Ringler gives them the message, “it’s not just a contest, you’re getting into show business with something that is a source of pride in the community.”
Ringler says the families are given some guidelines, a drawing of the armature and the basic structure. But it is up to them to build the rest and to make their scarecrow complete. Goodwill provides $20 coupons for the participants to buy materials.
Snider points out they receive good support from the community, with 24 sponsors this year. They’re looking to making “Project Scare-A-Crow” an annual event. And she gives credit to Project Jericho Director Beth Dixon for playing “a huge role in making the scarecrow project happen.”
The work of Project Jericho is probably best summarized by a quote from one of the families involved: “The one thing we love the most in our free time and what brings us closer together are these projects that Project Jericho arranges. They make it to where our family works together and makes something beautiful come out of it.”
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