The HOPE Squad would like to give back to the community for the holiday season by inviting everyone to their annual HOPE Festival on Friday, December 9 from 6:00 pm to 9:00 pm at the Notre Dame Hope Center located at 185 North Carbon Avenue in Price.

Debbie Marvidikis, Chairperson for HOPE Squad said, “One of the things that we do through the HOPE Squad is we provide free and low cost activities for the community.” This event is sure to be a great time for the entire family.

The HOPE squad was established back in 2013 because of the rise in suicides in both Carbon and Emery Counties. “The HOPE Festival is an activity to bring the community together, to bring awareness about suicide prevention and that suicide can be prevented,” said Marvidikis. Suicide is a sad, complex matter, so to host civic gatherings to bring awareness is worth saving a life.

This will mark the fourth year that the HOPE Festival has been held and it grows every year. “We have free dinner for everyone that shows up, we have free games and prizes, we have Santa, where all the kids will get a gift,” stated Marvidikis. Dinner is set to be served at 6:00 pm till 7:00 pm.

The games and other activities will start at 7:00 pm till 9:00 pm. All of the door prizes will be awarded every 15 minutes. The prizes range from gift cards, entire family Christmas dinner plus the fixings and gifts, all of the items have been donated by area merchants.

If you would like more information about the HOPE Squad or would like to be a part of the organization, you can call Debbie Marvidakis at the Health Department at 637-3671.