CAMP FOSTER, OKINAWA, Japan -- Military families gathered at the Ocean Breeze Jan. 17 for a Winter Wonderland Family Fun Night aboard Camp Foster.
The family fun night brought the military community together to mingle and enjoy a night of food and crafts. The Ocean Breeze also supplied each child with a toy upon entering the event.
“Every month the club has a themed event,” said Michelle Harp, the club operations shift leader at the Ocean Breeze. “Winter Wonderland was January’s big theme.”
Families enjoyed a festive dinner of turkey pot pie and fried turkey. Children participated in snowflake coloring, watched “Frozen” and enjoyed making s’mores at the s’mores bar.
“This event allows a good community atmosphere,” said Sgt. Joseph Sanchez, a combat production specialist with Headquarters and Support Battalion, Marine Corps Installations Pacific-Marine Corps Base Camp Butler, Japan. “Being a young family with a lot of kids sometimes makes going off-base for dinner difficult. We can come here and it’s usually a fun time for the kids.”
Here in Okinawa, having a strong support system within the community is essential. Events like this help provide families a chance to meet their neighbors and start building that network.
“Being a club doesn’t mean we just entertain adults,” said Harp. “We also provide family events and a place where the whole family can come out, relax and enjoy there evening.”