Hundreds of residents of Heritage Acres apartments were the recipients of a community day just for them on Saturday, put on by St. Mary Church of God in Christ from down the street.

“This is something we’ve always wanted to do to reach out to the community, especially reach out to the kids,” Pastor Dwight Nixon said.

The church gave away five bicycles and had bounce houses, free food, face painting and more available.

Katrina Reynolds, a church member, said the church donated the money for the bicycles, and other needs were donated by Farm Fresh and Target as well Vice Mayor Charles Brown, Councilman Mike Duman and LW’s Lawn Service.

Spunky the Clown was a popular attraction after her arrival. The bounce houses were left abandoned as children lined up for balloon animals.

Reynolds said the church recently started to minister in the community and other nearby neighborhoods.

“When we started to talk to people out here, they were so warm and loving,” Reynolds said. “We wanted to say thank you for allowing us to talk to them, and we just want to let them know that God loves them.”

The outreach will be repeated in other neighborhoods in coming months, Pastor Nixon said.

“We just want to give back to the community as a church, not to bring the church to us but to go where the people are,” said Brenda Nixon, the pastor’s wife.

Reynolds said the church is starting a new Sunday school program that will transport children to the church for Sunday school and then back to their homes. Several parents had already expressed interest on Saturday, she said.