Duct Tape Parade Spotlight: Avon Church of God Partners with Big Brothers-Big Sisters

When the Avon Church of God considered this year’s float for the Duct Tape Festival parade, they kept a focus on children, as they have in the past.

Children have been an integral part of their annual festival float, and this year they have expanded the inclusion of children, partnering this year with Big Brothers- Big Sisters of Lorain County to help create a huge duct tape birthday cake in honor of the festival’s 10th year.

The parade begins at Avon High School on Saturday, June 15 at 10 a.m. 

“We’ve always involved children,” Rev. Lee Kelley, who along with her husband Joseph, serve as the Detroit Road church’s pastors. “This year we spread it farther with Big Brothers-Big Sisters.”

The partnership has resulted in a large, white birthday cake, the church’s contribution this year to Saturday’s Duct Tape Festival parade. (Click here for the full schedule of events.)

“They have been helping us create our float and will be in the parade with us this year,” Lee Kelley said. “We wanted to help them attain a greater community awareness for the program they are in. The kids that have come with their big sisters have had an enjoyable time. These kids have difficulties and have come under the caring arms of a big brother or big sister.”

Kelley said the stories they have heard from the organization are amazing.

“One big sister had lost her husband and became part of the program to give of herself to a hurting child,” she said.

The Kelleys are responsible for re-opening a church that had closed. When they received an initiation to participate in the Duct Tape parade four years ago, they jumped at the chance.

While this year’s float is smaller than last year’s it required more than 60 rolls of Duct Tape.

The float, with the assistance of the children and perennial assistants Ralph and Wanda Conley of Avon, was assembled this past week. The Conleys, in their 70s, usually walk the parade, but will get a ride in the truck this year, as the church’s honorary guests.

The float, a birthday cake, will include created items from every decade in the 1900s.

“It sparked excitement with the kids,” Kelley said.        

The Kelleys are hoping the partnership with Big Brothers-Big Sisters continues.

“We did invited them for our Easter egg hunt and are planning activities in future,”

The church has also worked with Lorain County Children’s services, raising money with a car show.

Scroll through the photos to see the float’s progress as it is constructed.