The summer season came to an end with three neighborhood picnics hosted by the city of Albert Lea. Held at Morin, Valley and Academy parks, the picnics were a huge success with over 600 community residents attending.

We gathered to eat, play and share our summer experiences. On behalf of so many happy picnickers, I would like to say thank you to the many community partners that made these neighborhood picnics possible.

Thank you to the city of Albert Lea and their dedicated staff for hosting the picnics, providing us with great venues to gather, cooking hot dogs, serving food, playing games and sharing their special talents with all of us. To Hy-Vee, Cargill, Kwik Trip, Marketplace Foods, WSB, United Employees Credit Union and the Albert Lea-Freeborn County Chamber of Commerce, thank you for providing and delivering all the food and paper products. There was a lot of food and the firefighters grilled hundreds and hundreds of hotdogs.

Thank you to Freeborn-Mower Cooperative Services, The Children’s Center, Innovance and Holiday Lanes, who not only had fun events for both children and adults, but also delivered hundreds of fliers to homes to let them know you are invited.

Thank you for your donations, hard work and participation. The 2016 neighborhood picnics were wonderful,gg and we appreciate your efforts!

Ellen Kehr

Organization Lead

Blue Zones Project Albert Lea