Chautauqua County Department of Mental Hygiene and Social Services, in collaboration with Gustavus Adolphus (GA) Family Services, YWCA Jamestown, and Court Appointment Special Advocate (CASA) joined forces to co host a resource fair Wednesday at GA Family Services.

The event entitled the “Real Game of Life Resource Fair” is based on the iconic Milton Bradley board game, The Game of Life, created in 1860, and is the first ever published game for this toy conglomerate. This game simulates a person’s travels through life, from early adulthood to retirement – with college, if necessary, jobs, marriage, and possible children along the way.

The “Real Game of Life Resource Fair” was designed for teenagers and young adults between the ages 14-21 to connect with local organizations offering support in various aspects of adulthood, including employment, education, housing, finance, transportation, healthcare and more utilizing the same format as the actual board game.

“We based this event off the Game of Life’s board game,” said Brandy Freitas, a senior case worker with Chautauqua County. “Just like the board game, by visiting with each vendor the attendees gained chances to win gift baskets and door prizes.”

Jamestown Police Officer Emma Ward and Hope, the department’s comfort dog, visited program participants and vendors at “The Real Game of Life Resource Fair” held on Wednesday, at GA Family Services. Program participants had color-coated cards and visited the various program vendors much like the iconic Milton Bradley board game of the same name. Submitted Photo

Prizes offered to attendees included an e-bike and more than 28 gift bags she said.

The event was well received by the more than 34 vendors in attendance and the more than 54 teens, parents, foster parents and guardians as well.

“I’d say this event was a great success,” said Freitas. “We’re planning for a fair like this up in the north county as well as another one in the south end.”

“I’d come back,” said a 13-year old male child, who is currently placed within a foster home – and isn’t being identified for his own protection and that of his foster-family. “I didn’t realize we have so many programs here. I mean we (his generation) call Jamestown “the dirty-J”, but we have a lot of programs here. The people really care.”

A popular attraction at this event was “Hope” – the yellow Labrador Retriever-assigned to the Jamestown Police Department as its official comfort dog. However, as Hope has grown so has some of her younger fanbase.

“I remember her when she was a little puppy,” said the same 13 year old boy. “She’s so big … but still friendly. She came to my school a few times.”