Jim and Willy Helgren visited with their daughter, Shari Tollefson, center, during a picnic for residents and family members Friday in the Iron County Medical Care Facility pavilion in Crystal Falls. (Iron Mountain Daily News photo

CRYSTAL FALLS — The Iron County Medical Care Facility in Crystal Falls saw a large turnout Friday for its first-ever picnic for residents and their families.

“We used to have a pig roast pre-COVID, so this is our first attempt to get back out there and do something for the community and the families of the residents,” said Karanda Buchanan, one of the staff members who organized the event.

Residents enjoyed hot dogs, chips and water or pop with family members. The event also featured a petting zoo, yard games, a s’mores bar, a dunk tank and lunch.

Administrator Robert W. Possanza Jr. volunteered to be first in the dunk tank “so employees can dunk me to get their revenge,” he joked.

Money raised from the dunk tank was to go toward purchasing a wheelchair-accessible swing, which costs about $9,000, he said.

Half of the money for the swing has already been donated in memory of Dolly Watts, a long-term resident of the memory care unit. “When she passed, the family wanted donations to go toward the swing,” Possanza said.

Organizers consider the picnic a big success. “I think this is the most people we’ve ever had in the pavilion,” Buchanan said.

Jim and Willy Helgren, residents for the past four years, just celebrated their 66th wedding anniversary, said their daughter, Shari Tollefson. They were the former owners of Cuculi’s Bar in Channing.

“Wonderful party. They’re having a great time,” Tollefson said.

“I’ve been to other things over here, but this is the best,” Willy Helgren added.

“The great part about today there are so many people here for class reunions, Bass Festival, rodeo — so we have lots of family members outside,” Possanza said.

The event was organized by an informal marketing committee made up of staff members. Along with Buchanan were Raquel Cahill, Kerry Bassett, Heidi Bociek, Ally Olson, Lindsey Anderson, Jessica Schultz, Jackie Beaudoin and Jen Cole.

Considering the turnout, they now hope to host the picnic every year, Buchanan said.

“I think might be a new tradition to kick off rodeo weekend,” she said. “A lot of families are out of town, so they get to come home for the rodeo and stop and have lunch with their loved ones first. That was the goal.”