The University of Maine at Presque Isle’s Student Senate will host a “Nickel Carnival” on Saturday, May 11 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. in the Gentile Hall Gymnasium to support My Friends’ House and All About Me programs in Fort Fairfield. This event is free and open to the public.

All carnival games will be a nickel and there will be a prize booth where the participants can redeem tickets for prizes. Carnival food such as cotton candy, snow cones, popcorn, and candy will be available to purchase for $1 each as well.

My Friends’ House, located on 265 Main St. in Fort Fairfield, is a community project created and run by UMPI student Angela Williams. Operating solely on donations, it includes programs specifically designed for women and youth, including an After School Program for middle school boys and girls; the All About Me program for high school girls; the Young at Heart Program for individuals over 50; and D.A.S.H (Daily Affirming and Self Help), a 12-week mentoring program for women ages 18 and older.

“Student Senate decided to do this fundraiser to help a community group that is supported 100 percent by donations,” Student Senate President Leah Rodriguez said. “Angela Williams is a Student Senator and had brought the idea up to me a little over two months ago. I brought the idea before the Senate and we thought that it would be a wonderful idea to support not only a community program such as this, but also a fellow student and Senate member.”

The group organized a fundraiser committee and brainstormed ideas for carnival games, food offerings and prizes. Their main goal has been to generate greater awareness in the local community about My Friends’ House.

“We hope that this will be a wonderful family fun day for our community to enjoy,” Rodriguez said.

This event is open to the public. For more information about the Nickel Carnival, contact UMPI’s Student Senate Office at 768-9561. For more information about My Friends’ House, contact Williams at 493-2011.