Written by: Alice Zhang, FCSN Voices Youth Reporter

A small but lively auditorium at the FCSN Fremont Osgood Center was brimming with the festive spirit of fall. The sounds of music and laughter filled the air and a quick glance around the room would reveal a variety of fun fall activities managed by adult and student volunteers. On October 5th at 9:00 AM, forty special needs individuals were gathered here to enjoy the many delights of the pumpkin spice season. Hosted by FCSN and Chi Am Circle, the yearly Chi Am Fall Festival brings together a community to celebrate a season of harvest and happiness.

In lieu of trick-or-treating, the Chi Am Fall Festival offered a table to table adventure for its participants. Each table was decked with a fun fall-themed activity like pumpkin decorating, coloring sheets, birdhouse decorating, and bear magnet making, to name a few. There were also dart games that offered various prizes to those who participated and a live band that kept the atmosphere upbeat with some fall tunes. With their checklist in hand, participants went from table to table, each one offering a new experience, much like how kids go from door to door on Halloween Eve. Participants had fun receiving goody bags full of books, squishies, and bubble wands and clapping, dancing, and singing along with the music. 

Liza Wong, Chi Am Circle chair member and planner of the event, expressed that the purpose of the event was to “provide a fall, trick-or-treat, event for the kids because it’s very hard for special needs kids to be with everyone else going trick-or-treating.” Chi Am Circle wants to give special needs kids the opportunity to experience fall traditions that they might not otherwise have access to. For this reason, they worked with FCSN volunteers and leaders to decide what activities to host at each craft table and to organize the entire festival.

The festival not only provided a unique and memorable experience for participants but also a rewarding one for the volunteers. The main role of the volunteers was to man the tables and encourage kids to immerse themselves into the activities. They also helped with setting up the tables and cleaning up after the festival. A volunteer with Chi Am Circle, Sylvia Leung talked about how fortunate she felt to be able to volunteer at this event. “I think they deserve the chance to interact, socialize, and learn,” she remarked. She was grateful to have the opportunity to put smiles on the special needs kids. Similarly, Angela, a FCSN volunteer, whose job was to accompany and trail a participant as he enjoyed the festivities, stated, “The best part of the festival is the variety of the activities offered that allow kids with different interests to enjoy.” The diversity of what’s offered guarantees the participants will find something to their liking.

FCSN and Chi Am Circle hope to continue hosting this festival, spreading fall cheer, and fostering a sense of belonging for many years to come. Through the dedication of volunteers, the Chi Am Festival not only brings joy but strengthens the bonds of a community, one pumpkin at a time.