Snow comes to First Sarasota

By Ian Swaby
| 11:45 a.m. January 13, 2025

Weston Schurr, 8, and his brother Parker Schurr, 6, build a snowman.

Sarasota
Neighbors

For the family of Ava Glauser, 3, and her sister Vallen Glauser, 5, the Snow Day at First Sarasota wasn't special just because of the chance to play in the snow and throw lots of snowballs.

It was also a milestone of her family's time with the church, which they began attending last year after their previous experience at a snow day.

"Hopefully for other families here, this is their first time, and they will come back like us," said the girls' mother Ally Glauser, with their father Daniel Glauser also in attendance.

Mitchell West of First Sarasota said this year's Snow Day, which took place Jan. 12, was the most widely attended yet, as kids enjoyed 17 tons of crushed ice, snow slides, and trucks offering pizza and shaved ice.

West called the event, which also featured indoor activities held alongside the weekly modern service, a space for the community to spend time together, where the church can "tell people about Jesus and have a good time while doing it."

Olin Croce, 3, enters the snow for the first time.

Zachary Darby, 9, tosses a snowball at his brother Joshua Darby, 5.

Rylie Charles, 5, gifts a snowball to Colton Woods, 3.

Volunteer Roni Smith assists as Whitney Livingston, and her daughter Lynne Livingston, 4, watch their son and brother RJ Livingston, 2, descend the slide.

Colton Woods, 3, explores the snow scene.

Matthew Tafolla, 6, completes a miniature snowman.

Ava Glauser, 3, and her sister Vallen Glauser, 5

Daniel Nedodaiev, 3, goes down the slide.

Aanya Likhitesh, 10, scoops up snow to make a snowman.

Arleana Croce, 3, and her twin brother Olin Croce, make snow angels.

Abbey Moy, 3, who is feeling cold after spending time in the snow, warms up with her grandmother Debi Windham.

Dale Chelette, 5, enjoys the thrill of a snow slide.

Sebastian Meehan, 7, and Cason West, 7, enjoy snow cones.

author

Ian Swaby

Ian Swaby is the Sarasota neighbors writer for the Observer. Ian is a Florida State University graduate of Editing, Writing, and Media and previously worked in the publishing industry in the Cayman Islands.