The block party hosted by Oasis of Love Church started about an hour early Saturday morning.
“They smelled the food off of the grills,” Pastor Raymond Cochran Jr. said. “We don’t mind.”
The longest-running block party in Mansfield returned for its ninth year on a broiling summer day on the city’s North End.
Its main claim to fame is that everything is free. People collected school supplies, book bags and food while the younger kids played games and got haircuts for the upcoming school year.
“That’s what Heaven would want, is to give back,” Cochran said.
Kam’ryn and Kai’dyn Phillips doze through Saturday’s block party at Oasis of Love Church.
Over the years, the block party has grown exponentially.
“It started as a North End thing,” Cochran said.
The block party now attracts people from Ashland, Huron and Crawford counties. Several organizations set up tents to let people know about community resources, while a DJ from Motown Entertainment kept the groove going.
Ulric Equio, of Mansfield, had never been to the block party before.
“I was really surprised. My mom (Jane) told me about it,” he said. “We’re just hanging out. It’s awesome that they have something like this.”
The 27-year-old was looking for information related to preschools for his son.
Jane Equio was another first-time attendee.
“I live a few blocks away. We thought we’d come and check it out,” she said.
Kelly Hristovski, of Mansfield, was another newcomer. She brought her grandson, 7-year-old Khylan Bond.
“We’re just looking at all the activities,” Hristovski said. “His first stop was a snow cone. It’s hot.”
People who wanted a haircut could escape the heat in the church basement, where Shaun Leak was donating his services.
J’Den Shields was his first customer.
Shaun Leak provides a free haircut to J’Den Shields at Saturday’s Oasis of Love Church block party.
Taking a break for a quick lunch, Richland County Sheriff’s Deputy Ryan Radojcsics helped with security. He volunteered to work on a scheduled day off and came away impressed with what he saw.
“This is incredible,” the deputy said of the turnout. “This is absolutely incredible.”
One person who has been to all nine block parties is Lester Clancy, a member of Oasis of Love since 1978.
“I’ve been here a few days,” he joked.
Clancy’s role on Saturday was to be a runner or, as he put it, an “all-purpose, hands-on person.”
“I’ve got to support my own, service to the community,” he said.
Cochran said that is the reason for the block party. The pastor noted that some people come with problems, but leave feeling energized.
“There’s peace here; there’s joy here; there’s love here,” Cochran said. “That’s what the block party is all about.”
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This article originally appeared on Mansfield News Journal: Oasis of Love Church gives back to community with free block party