JORDAN - Area schools have the week off for winter recess, but for the Jordan-Elbridge students, the school opened up for an afternoon of fun.

“It is a day for the kids to be with their friends and have structured fun,” said Sherri Taft, director of Kids Break, a volunteer organization which holds a day of fun and games for students during the week-long breaks. “They receive a hot lunch and two snacks during the course of the day.”

Wednesday's lunch was macaroni and cheese, green beans and fruit cocktail.

For 9-year-old Shellby Moore, learning how to make her own piece of yarn on a spinning machine was the best part of the day.

“It was really fun,” she said, holding up the short strand of white yarn that she had made. “It is just like in the story ‘Rumplestiltskin.'”

In addition to the hand-spun yarn, children were treated to an afternoon of visiting rabbits in the petting zoo. Taft said the program is offered to area students within the school district at a cost of $5 per child.

“If the parents cannot afford the cost, it will be waived,” she said. “The cost is to cover the food and activities for the afternoon. It is rather a donation than a cost.”

The event is open to children ages 5 to 11, with each activity being separated into individual age groups. From wall-climbing, crafts and games, to reading groups and lunch, most of the participants had so much fun they were asking Taft when the next Kids Break lunch will be.

“We typically have around 40 kids that attend the program,” she said. “Today we had 56 kids in attendance. That is the most yet.”

According to Taft, the program began last year and will continue to run as long as there are volunteers to help. Each event takes about a month to put together.

“It won't be long before we are planning the next one,” she said. “The program is offered during each school break, and three times during the summer vacation.”