FORT EUSTIS, Va. –
King Kandy, Gramma Nutt, Princess Lolly, Princess Frostine and Lord Licorice led a parade of children through a Candy Land maze, from the Candy Cane Forest to the Gum Drop Mountain.
The children got to decorate cupcakes, create holiday crafts and hear a story read by Lord Licorice himself. Candy Land also had a visitor, Kuma, a yellow Labrador retriever specially trained by her owner to be a therapy dog.
The children and their parents, Army members or their spouses, participated in the Candy Land Adventure Monday as part of the Exceptional Family Member Program's Empowerment Hour, 60 minutes set aside every other month to educate and entertain. This month, EFMP staff, volunteers and others created a special holiday event with crafts, raffles, food and fun.
Soldier and Family Readiness (Army Community Service) at Fort Eustis was transformed into the popular children's board game of the same name. Wooden, painted likenesses of the characters, dotted the hallways, as did colored construction paper taped onto the tile floor, to mimic the game's squares.
EFMP was started in the early 1980's to assist military families with special needs family members. EFMP provides multi-agency support for families with housing, medical, educational and personnel services. According to the Army's website, approximately 16 percent of Army families have members with special needs, including spouses, children, or dependent parents who require special medical or educational services.
Marlene Foster Cherrye, program manager, said the empowerment hour is meant to educate families on different issues important to them, and to provide an aspect of fun for the kids.
Several adults participated in Monday's event, including Soldier and Family Readiness staff, volunteers, Survivor Outreach Services, Parent to Parent program, and the USO Hampton Roads and Central Virginia, which provided snacks.
Beth Treon with Army Family Action Plan brought her SPCA-rescued dog, Kuma, or "Bear," to interact with the children. Treon has trained Kuma to be a therapy dog.
Cassaundra Daggins, 19 months, was fascinated by the dog, often finding herself in front of the dogs face. Her father, Spc. Isaac Daggins, took photos.
A rope train helped lead the dozen children from having their snacks to the Licorice Lagoon, as Cherrye or Gramma Nutt said. "Get your train ticket! You've got to grab on to the rope."
Lt. Col. Layton G. Dunbar Jr., 24th Transportation Battalion commander, also known as Lord Licorice, read "Snip, Snip ... Snow" to the children, while Kuma and Treon looked on.
After, the children made marshmallow snowmen, colorful bookmarks and candy-cane ornaments. After they completed their crafts, they got to decorate cupcakes with gum drops and other yummy candy.
"This is a special holiday event for children with needs and their families," said Ann Schulte, Soldier and Family Readiness director.