Our Lady of Grace stages buoyant fundraising event

Thousands of locals came out to enjoy Our Lady of Grace’s (OLG) annual Family Bazaar, held from Wednesday, August 1 through Sunday, August 5. Members of OLG’s parish and school attended the event, as well as many who were not affiliated with OLG at all.
The Bazaar, held at the OLG schoolyard, 158-20 101st Street in Howard Beach, included a variety of activities for kids and adults. From rides and attractions to praying stations, OLG Principal Beth Kavanagh said the event had something for everyone.
“People could light candles and pray to different saints,” said Kavanagh. “But in addition to that, there were games for families and kids…God blessed us with great weather, so we had a great week.”
For the kids, the highlight of the event was the bumper car station, said event organizer John De Nero. The 25-foot slide was a close second.
“We had a slide made of steel,” said De Nero. “Kids could sit on a potato sack and slide down. They loved it.”
For adults, however, the attracting force of the event was clear.
“The food,” said De Nero. “Food is what draws people in. We had all kinds of food this year, even a fresh fish bar, with shrimps and scallops.”
Frank Gulluscio, a member of the OLG school board, said the Bazaar’s local charm is what keeps people
coming back each year.
“It’s great to see so many people from your neighborhood,” said Gulluscio. “You recognize a lot of people. There’s a little bit of everything. It has a very local feel.”
“My three kids love it,” added De Nero. “It’s all they’ll talk about for the rest of the summer. It’s a big mid-summer thing where they get to see the kids they haven’t seen since June…it’s a tradition, and I’m more than happy to keep it going.”
This year, Gulluscio took his one-year-old grandson to his first OLG Bazaar.
“It was the first time I got to bring him, so it was great,” said Gulluscio. “[Bringing him] gave it a real family feel.”
Gulluscio’s grandson wasn’t the only first-timer in attendance. The event was also new to Kavanagh, who just completed her second year as OLG principal and could not attend last year’s Bazaar.
Kavanagh said her first impression of the event was “just great.”
“I saw a lot of families,” she said. “It was a safe place. The police presence there was very evident, so there was no question about the safety.”
Proceeds from the Bazaar support both the OLG parish and the school, which serves grades K though eight.
“A lot of thanks is owed to friends of the church and the volunteers who helped out,” said Kavanagh.