With the congregations of more than ten churches praying it wouldn’t rain, it seemed perfectly natural that umbrellas weren’t needed for the fourth annual Hope Day held Saturday at Father O’Hara Field in Oakland Beach. The event featuring music, kids’ rides, haircuts, a lunch, Crocs that were a big hit, counseling and a bag of nonperishable food was entirely free.

Hope Day volunteers – estimates are that there were 300 of them – were easily identifiable in their red T-shirts inscribed with Hope Day in white lettering. Like a giant family, all were there ready to help.

A total of 937 visited the event that ended Saturday afternoon at 2.

Around noon, somewhere among the crowd, was Site Coordinator Matthew McIntosh, pastor of Warwick Hope Assembly of God. He didn’t pause between the various stations lining the perimeter of the field answering questions and ensuring the event’s smooth operation. Conversely, his wife Dee, who was working in the shoe tent, couldn’t budge as she and volunteers sought to keep up with requests for Crocs.

“Do you have size 12?” queried one woman who had waited for 15 minutes outside the tent. One of a half dozen volunteers started digging through boxes. “Got it,” came the triumphant call.

“We opened hardly an hour ago and it looks like we’re going to run out,” Dee said assessing the line and what was left in stock. She went through boxes coming upon a trove of sunglasses that was a featured item at a previous Hope Day. She would start handing those out for as long as they lasted.

Reached Monday, Pastor McIntosh said 465 pairs of shoes that the church had acquired at wholesale from a friend were given away. McIntosh was delighted with the cooperation and unity in purpose of partner churches and the turnout. Without hesitation he said the plan is to hold Hope Day on the fist Saturday next June.  He feels there couldn’t be a better location, too.

The community service tent brought together a cross section of nonprofits and organizations including Westbay Community Action, Teen Challenge Bloom, Veterans Center, Bags of Hope, Warwick Public Library, Warwick Fire and Police, Meals on Wheels, Boys Town, RI Department of Labor & Training and WARV Radio.

Lauren Palana who manned the Dynamics Electric Boat table reported about a half dozen people had signed up to learn more about Electric Boat job opportunities. And how many jobs is the company looking to fill?

Palana rolled her eyes. “We could use 2,000,” she said.

Pastor McIntosh offered some more statistics from the day: 220 family photos were taken in the photo both; 1,232 free lunches were served; 600 bags of groceries were given out, 596 children visited the kids zone and more than 70 people received haircuts. The entire event was paid for by participating churches, donations and sponsors.

Pastor McIntosh said registration information is shared with partnering churches. Those who attended are being invited to a free chicken dinner later this month at Hope Assembly of God to learn more about the church. He said partner churches are likewise reaching out to attendees.