By LEIGH C. MERRIFIELD
News & Journal Editor
It has not yet been a year since Ace Hardware opened a brand new location in Shinnston, but customers have come to appreciate the convenience of having a hardware store locally. For men, it has been a real “perk” to shop nearby for tools, plumbing and electrical needs, paint, small hardware items, lawn and garden products, etc., and they value being able to consult with the knowledgeable staff for advice and product information when making a selection. Even women frequent the store and enjoy finding decorative seasonal items, candles, cleaning products … and soon, spring flowers!
Shinnston’s Ace Hardware family and staff place a great deal of emphasis on customer relationships. And recently they extended that relationship to include their customers’ entire family by hosting an event for kids! Last Friday evening, February 17th, was “Kids Night” at Ace Hardware in Shinnston, and they had a good turnout.
Parents were invited to visit the store with their children and participate with them for a hands-on painting project. Sixteen children attended and were encouraged to use their own creativity while making clowns out of flower pots. Fast-drying Amy Howard paints, available at Ace, were utilized. Supervising the project were Kim Southern, Ashley Wolfe, and Kayla Maloney.
The cost was $25 for the first child and $15 for each additional child. All supplies were furnished … along with pizza as a snack.
“The kids all seemed to enjoy it and were proud of what they made,” Kim stated. “We had kids ranging in age from two to middle school age – both boys and girls. Since families seemed to enjoy it so much, we are going to try to do this once a month, each time featuring a different craft. Kids who have already attended our first Kids Night will pay just $20 if they return for the follow-up sessions with additional children still paying $15.”
Kids Night next month will be held on Friday, March 24th beginning at 6:30 p.m. The project will be candy dishes that will resemble gum ball machines. Again, all supplies will be included. Kim noted that they have ample space for 20 children to participate, and you must pre-register so that needed supplies will be available to handle all participants.
“Our plans are to continue this once each month through Spring,” Kim added. “Kids seem to get involved with a lot of summer activities when school closes and then families also schedule vacation time, so we may wait to resume the classes in the fall, depending on continued interest.”
Ace Hardware believes in giving back to the communities where they do business, and because Ace is a proud partner with Children’s Miracle Network, they are pleased to offer these special activities for children in the local area.
“We may host a free pet show for the kids who participate in our programs, and we would like to have the kids get involved in decorating a float and riding on it in the next Frontier Days parade,” Kim concluded. “We are trying to incorporate some different occasions to give families a reason to visit Ace Hardware together!”
Anyone interested in pre-registering their children for Kids Night in March should call 304-371-3512. Ace is the place!
PHOTO CUTLINES:
PIC 1 –
Pictured above are the children who participated in Shinnston Ace Hardware’s first Kids Night – along with a sampling of their projects.
PIC 2 –
Shown here, Mom and Dad watch while their children, Blake and Elizabeth Hannah, apply colorful paint to their clown creations!
