By Jenny Huggins
News Reporter

 

 

Lynette and Bert Lillard woke up to a pink surprise Wednesday morning.   “I got a text from an unknown number saying 'Hey, what's up?' and my son was at camp so I knew it wasn't from him," Lynette said. "I looked out my window and thought what in the world? The Methodist kids must have been here!”  The Poteau First United Methodist Youth Group is currently involved in a “flocking time” fund raiser.

"The youths are flamingo handlers who ride around in the Flamingo Mobile at night flocking peoples houses,” stated Kim Hardaway, FUMC youth director.  "The money we raise will help us in our missions work."  Here's how it works: Someone pays $35 to have the “flock” placed on a friend's front lawn one night and the lucky recipient of the flamingos pays $10 to have them removed or $25 to have them relocated to someone else's yard.  

 

But, there is a way to make sure your yard isn't full of birds one morning. Flamingo insurance is available for $35 and the youths will know that your home is off limits.  "No one has to participate," says Hardaway. "If you don't want to participate and want the birds removed, the flamingo handlers will come the next night to remove the birds."

 

The youth group started this fund raiser last summer. It was a huge success and the group raised $1,600. The kids participate in church camps and the annual 30-hour famine with some of the funds.  The flocking began June 28 and will continue through July 12.  Those flocked  also get a sign placed in their yard which states "You've been flocked!” with directions about how to have the birds removed.  

 

“We try not to get caught," Hardaway said. "The kids have been set up.  They went to flock a house and there were people waiting for them and chased after them. The kids had a lot of fun."   Anyone interested in flocking a friend, call the “flamingo hotline” at 647-2217 and ask for Kim Hardaway. She'll let you know how to get flocked.