DELAWARE — The Sandy Hardymon Free Summer Kids Series is delighted to bring these results forward that speak to the donation driven cornerstone of the Strand Theatre and Cultural Arts Association programming.
The mission is to offer Delaware children free daytime entertainment, and teach them to give to those in need so our local non-profits benefit.
During the 2026 series, which ran on Tuesdays from June 2 through July 28, more than 2,400 patrons gave to non-profit agencies which received:
- Over 400 baby care items for the Delaware Public Health District
- Over 600 paper product items for The Unity Community Center
- 504 pounds of non-perishable food items for People in Need
- Over 300 toiletry items for the Common Ground Free Store
- 250 camp related items and $65 in gift cards for Stratford Ecological Center
- 110 items for Turning Point with a value of close to $500
- 82 pounds of wrapped snacks and personal care products with over 150 rolls of toilet paper for Andrews House
- Over 400 school supplies for Delaware Noon Kiwanis
- $385 in monetary donations
“It is so fulfilling to see children excited to give to our non-profit recipients,” said Tracey Peyton, the Strand’s managing director.
“When we can instill this spirit of generosity at such an early age, this is only a glimpse of what is to come – a future of charitable adults,” she said. “It makes my hear melt to see our patrons answer this call to action, and they have been doing so for decades.”
Established in 1916, the Strand Theatre, located at 28 E. Winter Street, is one of the 10 oldest continuously operating movie theaters in the country showing first-run films.
The non-profit Strand has been recognized nationally for its Sensory initiative and is a recent recipient of the Quality-of-Life Award given by the Delaware Chamber of Commerce to a non-profit group that makes a significant contribution to the community.
The Strand earned two awards in 2021for its efforts during the pandemic: Main Street Delaware’s Business Innovation Award and Heritage Ohio’s Ohio Historical Theatre of the Year Award.
