Over 300 parents and children swarmed through the American Red Cross in Tinton Falls on Saturday and no disaster was declared.

The website Calendar for Kids presented a kids’ Winter Activities Showcase in collaboration with local businesses and the Jersey Coast Chapter of the relief organization, which received a portion of donations made by guests of the event.

Calendar for Kids was created by mothers for mothers and offers a hassle-free way of finding new, fun ways to entertain their children.  The site provides a comprehensive calendar that lists dates and times of events occurring in selective counties throughout the state.

Sally Trezza, co-founder of the website, said she was happy with the turnout. “This is a time when kids get tired of playing with Christmas presents and can’t do much outside,” she said. “The (activities showcase) offers something new to do which isn’t always that easy.”

 This specific Calendar for Kids event gave local businesses an opportunity to share their goods and services through a variety of fun activities for children. Participating business included Gymboree, Snazzy Jazzy Faces, and Neighborhood Lit.

 The Neighborhood Lit station was swarmed with children playing games like hoop beanbag toss and hopscotch. Janice Migliazza, who owns the reading and writing enrichment company, said, “It’s a really nice event with a good set of kids. We were able to showcase our business and show parents fun ways to teach their kids.”

 “It’s really hands on,” she said over the buzz of happy children as she conducted a vocabulary egg race.

Jasmine Lazroe, owner of Snazzy Jazzy Faces, a face painting company based in Brick, heard about the showcase through Calendar for Kids e-mail blasts. She referred to the event as “an awesome advertising and networking opportunity for the business.”

“I also enjoy the fact that I can raise funds for other organizations. Half of my sales today go to the Red Cross,” she said.

Debi Heptig, director of development at Red Cross, saw the event as “a terrific opportunity to invite the public to the facility.”

“Most people don’t know we work right in their neighborhood.” Heptig said. “During the recent blizzards we sheltered 300 people at the Monmouth Mall.”

The event gave the American Red Cross a chance to increase awareness of its worldwide efforts and provided educational information for guests concerning subjects like blood donations and CPR. “This year we certified over 54,000 people. We are letting people feel empowered to take care of themselves and loved ones.” Heptig said.              

The activities showcase was the first Calendar for Kids event Linda Ryan has attended. Dancing, coloring, and face painting were a few activities her daughter Remi Ryan, 7, enjoyed at the event. Ryan said she heard about the event from a friend and was excited “to have a new site to check out.” She and Remi, even took a brief tour of the blood donation center.