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CASSOPOLIS — This month, one local organization will be serving up something sweet for Cass County residents.

The Cass County Council on Aging will host an “Ice Cream Social Distancing” event at both of its Cass County locations. The first ice cream social will take place outside of its Cassopolis Lowe Center, 60525 Decatur Road, Cassopolis, from 7:30 to 8:30 p.m. Friday, July 17. After the ice cream social, the COA will host an outdoor movie.

The second ice cream social will take place on the lawn of the James E. Snow building in Dowagiac, located across from City Hall. The Dowagiac social will take place from 6 to 7 p.m. July 22. No movie will follow the Dowagiac event.

“We’ve had an ice cream social for many years, but it has always been indoors,” said Kelli Casey, director of community development at the COA. “So, we were thinking outside the box, and settled on these two events.”

The COA has taken extra precautions, including requesting use of the lawn of the James E. Snow building from the city of Dowagiac, this year to keep those who attend the ice cream social safe amid COVID-19 mandates.

Casey said she is particularly excited about the movie to be hosted after the Cassopolis ice cream social. It will allow area residents to enjoy an evening out of the house, while still being safe and allowing for proper distance between others. The movie to be shown at dusk Friday, July 17, is “A Night at the Museum.”

“We thought this was an event we could host where people could social distance, and we could follow all the guidelines,” Casey said. “We will keep social distance, keep tables apart, but still allow families to gather together and enjoy time together.”

The COA, which reopened this week after months of COVID-19 related closures, is primarily known for its services to Cass County’s senior population. However, Casey said the ice cream socials and movie night would welcome area residents of all ages and walks of life. She said she hopes to see a large turnout of community members to enjoy themselves during the “Ice Cream Social Distancing” events.

“We just want to put something back out into the community,” she said. “This is a whole community event. We want to say ‘thank you’ to everyone for supporting the COA and let everyone know that we are here for the whole community.”