When Tracy Harper decided she needed to give back to the community she had come to know and love, she never imagined how strongly and enthusiastically those around her would respond.

Harper, the driving force behind “Fun Day For Kids,” along with a dedicated group of selfless volunteers that support her organization’s efforts, spent months planning for the event, which was held at Walter B. Williams Park and drew an estimated crowd of 2,000 people to the park area last Saturday.

“The Lord did this. I’m blessed. When you do the right thing from the heart, God puts it in place,” Harper said.

Churches, schools, daycare centers and individual families were represented in attendance while clowns, a fashion show, fishing, music and free haircuts were provided to keep spirits strong against the possibility of wet weather moving through the state during the day.

“It was an exciting day and I enjoyed every moment of it. Mrs. Harper is a good friend of the family and a good friend of mine. What she does for the community is an excellent thing. The kids look forward to it every year,” Dax Bolston, one of the barbers present for the event and a self-described master barber and “hair pediatrician,” stated in a phone interview Thursday.

The day would not have been possible without numerous sponsors who provided for almost every item and event available, Harper said.

Clover’s Gifts and Flowers, Happy Times, Slater’s Funeral Home, Nappy Roots/Fish Scales, Jungle of Joy, Attorney Cedric Davis, Flipper Chapel A.M.E., Exchange Club of Milledgeville, MI Jumper, The Tint Shop/Nextel, Bright Star ELC (Griffin), Miller Plaza Learning Center, Po’ Boys, James Fish and Chicken, Peoples Funeral Home, Taka’s Bridal Shop and Ray’s Artistic Cuts were among the sponsors who assisted with the event.

Roc’s Corke Shoppe, Secret Petals Motorcycle Club, Global Computer Providers, Milledgeville Cruisers, Market Basket, Bad Boy Racing, DJ Soulman, Leroy Hill, Total Construction, Upscale Barber Shop, Davis Family, CMD, 100 Black Men, Soul Master’s Lounge, 107.1, Studio 32, Lowe’s, Beckham’s Used Cars and Big Daddy’s Car Racing also provided support for Saturday’s event.

“I probably did about 20 to 30 haircuts for the day. What’s funny was where I was at, I had planned to provide only about five haircuts, but then the lines got so long that I just started doing more. Finally I just started taking numbers and giving out certificates for my barber shop,” Bolston said.

Prizes were also given out including an MP3 player, a digital camera, trampolines, scooters, bikes and a four-wheeler. More than 100 pairs of tennis shoes were also given out during the event.

“The Lord has blessed me to be able to give back to the community and surrounding counties. I’m excited about next year and have already started planning,” Harper said.

The Union-Recorder reporter Jonathan Jackson contributed to this article.