After the Fourth of July parade rolls down Main Street and the ice cream social wraps up at the Senior Center, families can head to the field house in Wessington Springs City Park for a ride aboard Larry Powell’s Freedom Train.
While many residents may recognize the attraction from December’s community Christmas celebration, this marks the first year Powell has brought the train to Wessington Springs’ Fourth of July festivities. The move allows more children and families to enjoy the rides while continuing to support the Wessington Springs School District lunch relief program.
Powell originally launched the train rides during the community’s Christmas kickoff event as a fundraiser for the Wessington Springs School District lunch relief program. Through sponsorships from area businesses, organizations and individuals, the effort raised more than $3,500 to help cover the cost of additional meal servings for students.
“I’ve wanted to help out the school lunch program for years,” Powell said. “I wanted to do something, and I thought, what a prime opportunity.”
Powell said community members immediately embraced the idea when he began seeking sponsors.
“I started making some phone calls, and everybody was on board,” he said. “It went very well.”
While the Christmas rides were successful, Powell said the cold weather limited how long children wanted to stay on the train.
“It was a cold night,” he said. “The kids enjoyed it, but they didn’t go twice. It was kind of a short trip.”
Moving the attraction to the Fourth of July offers benefits for both riders and the school lunch program.
“That’s why I thought if I get this switched over for two reasons,” Powell said. “Number one, it’s going to be nicer for me and the kids. And for two, it would get the money to the school at the beginning of the year rather than the middle of the year.”
As with the Christmas fundraiser, Powell said 100 percent of the proceeds from Freedom Train rides will be donated to the Wessington Springs School District lunch relief program.
Families can find the Freedom Train at the field house following the July 4 parade and ice cream social as part of the community’s Independence Day celebration.
For those who wish to participate as a sponsor, contact Larry Powell at 605-770-4370.