On Saturday, October 17, close to 350 of our neighbors spent the afternoon with us in the parking lot on South Bowen Road. It was the biggest turnout we have had for an event, and the lot has never looked better.
What the day looked like
Families arrived in costume from the moment we opened. The Sports Zone inflatables ran all afternoon with a queue that barely let up, and the carnival games, ring toss and petting zoo kept going until the last pumpkin bucket was filled. There was face painting, nachos, and a steady stream of candy that we had genuinely underestimated.
Our mascot spent most of the day being hugged, high-fived and photographed, which was exactly the plan.
Why we do this
An emergency room is a strange place to invite people to on a good day. Most families only see the inside of ours at the worst moment of their week, when somebody is hurt or frightened and nobody is thinking clearly.
That is the reason these afternoons matter. When you already know where we are, what the building looks like from the road, and who is working inside it, the decision to come in is easier at the moment it is hardest to make. Several parents told us they had driven past us for years without knowing what we were. That is worth an afternoon of inflatables.
It matters most for families with young children, who make up a large share of the patients we see, and who do best when a parent is not hesitating over where to go.
The Night Market
The same weekend, our team set up at the Night Market at Arlington City Hall. A different crowd, a later evening, and a lot of good conversations with people who had not heard of us.
Thank you
To every family who came out, thank you. You made the day.
To our team, who planned it, hauled it, ran it and packed it all down again: thank you. The people in those photos are the same people who will be here at three in the morning when you need them.
We are open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, every day of the year, including holidays. No appointment, no referral.
If your school, team or neighborhood group is planning something and you would like us there, get in touch.
Photos from the day
