NILES — There were plenty of watermelons to go around Saturday, as dozens gathered to celebrate the inaugural Blessings of the Watermelon at Hope Community Church.

Those searching for the festivities needed only to look for the green bus, adorned with giant watermelons and the outdoor pavilion decorated with watermelon balloons that marked the event.

Throughout the day, there was music, a bounce house and face painting for children, as well as many watermelon themed events. There was watermelon skiing, where contestants strapped two watermelons to their feet and were pulled across a tarp, as well as watermelon piñatas and photo opportunities with watermelon. And, of course, there were lots of free watermelons for people to take home.

The event was organized by Sy Vanderbutts, of Niles, and his girlfriend, Karla Arndt, of Dowagiac.

“It’s a fun event,” Arndt said. “It’s just outreach to other churches for everybody just to get together and celebrate life.”

Vanderbutts runs a nonprofit called Garden of Divinity, and donates fruit, including watermelons, to the Council on Aging, jails, homeless shelters and food pantries. Thanks to a four-year partnership with Niles farmers Ed and Tina Kerlikowske, hundreds of watermelon are donated to fuel Vanderbutts’ cause. This year they gave Vanderbutts more than 700 watermelons to distribute.   

Vanderbutts said he wanted to create an event that could distribute the fruit while also promoting fellowship. He partnered with several area churches to help bring Blessings of the Watermelon into reality.

“It’s a community gathering and an outreach for the Niles area,” Vanderbutts said. “Watermelons are just the vehicle to get people to come. They love watermelons and if we can do something … like we are doing here this can only grow.”

Vanderbutts said he also hoped the event served as a way to get people connected with their local churches.

“If we could affect one person, we’ve done our job,” Vanderbutts said.

For Niles’ Maria Brown and her family, watermelon is a favorite fruit in the household. Brown attended Blessings of the Watermelon Saturday with her children, Simon, 14, and Elizabeth, 5.

“I just want to have a lot of fun with the kids and meet some new people,” Brown said.

She also planned on bringing home two watermelons.

Vanderbutts is hoping to make Blessings of the Watermelon an annual event. Reflecting on the work of his nonprofit, Vanderbutts said he was inspired by his faith to create the organization and that his partnership with the Kerlikowske helped to grow his mission. 

“Ed and I made a covenant together from God, saying, ‘We are going to do this and build this and we are going to build our community and we are going to feed people. And we are going to feed them Bibles and the gospel, but food,” Vanderbutts said.