Parents and children alike will find something to love during the Lewis Cass ISD Great Start program’s Family Expo next week.

The expo will take place from 4 to 7 p.m. Thursday, April 13, at Ross Beatty Junior/Senior High School, at 22721 Diamond Cove St., Cassopolis. Families will be able to learn more about local agencies and programs intended to improve the quality of life for children during the event, as well as enjoy a free meal and concert by children’s author and songwriter Jim Gill.

Organizers with the Cass County Great Start Collaborative — a group of county citizens dedicated to improving the welfare of local children 8 years old and younger — will invite several organizations to participate in the fair. Representatives will hand out information to parents about the services they provide families, as well as offer activities for children, said Vicki Foote, administrative assistant with Great Start program.

“One of the Cass County Great Start Collaborative goals is to ensure that children are born healthy and thrive throughout their lives,” Foote said. “This event is meant to connect children and families with resources that will help them reach that goal.”

Among the representatives and agencies participating in the expo are:

• Holly McDonald with Borgess-Lee Memorial Hospital, who will provide information about healthy recipes and activities for children.

• Makenzie Kreiner with the Cass County Sheriff’s Department, who will offer fingerprinting and car seat safety information.

• Scott Wyman with Cass County Parks and Recreation, who will have brochures about upcoming parks events and programs.

• Jennifer Ray with the Cass District Library, who will have sign-up forms for library cards as well as crafts and information about library programs.

• Mary Tompi with Helping Hands of Cass County, who will have a Powerpoint presentation about the organization and have handouts and coupons for the thrift store.

• Tanda Stiffler with the Lions of Michigan Project KidSight, who will offer free vision screenings for children.

• Stephanie Consford with the Cass County Michigan State University Extension Office, who will have information on local 4-H clubs and activities for kids.

These and other representatives will set up booths inside the school gymnasium. Parents will receive raffle tickets for each station they visit, Foote said.

In the school cafeteria, families may enjoy a free meal, catered by Vandalia’s Bullseye Marketplace. Organizers will serve smoked chicken, mac and cheese, potatoes and green beans, Foote said.

Finally, visitors can listen to some live entertainment in the school auditorium courtesy of Gill, who will perform an interactive concert for children. The Great Start staff invited the musician to play due to the popularity of his music with children in the program, Foote said.

“The point of the expo is to connect families with these different resources, but we also wanted to offer something else for them to enjoy,” Foote said.

Admission to the concert is limited to the first 400 people who attend, Foote said.

People with questions about the event may contact Foote at (269) 445-6283.