Fr. Carr’s Place 2B holds fourth annual ‘Carnival for Kids’
By Michael Cooney | For On Mission
OSHKOSH, WI — “There are a lot of ways to enrich people’s lives,” Jim Boehm, executive director of Father Carr’s Place 2B, said as thousands of children and parents filled the grounds on Saturday, May 30. “Sometimes enrichment simply means letting families have a joyful day together without worrying about money.”
That spirit defined the fourth annual “CARRnival for Kids,” a free community celebration hosted by Father Carr’s Place 2B that transformed the Oshkosh campus into a daylong festival of carnival rides, obstacle courses, climbing walls, face painting, games and food.
“Some families may never see Disney World or Great America,” Boehm said. “But they still deserve to have fun. They deserve to ride a Ferris wheel, climb a climbing wall, get their face painted and just enjoy being a family together.”
The event was intentionally free, including rides, activities, food, parking and shuttle service from Oshkosh West High School. The only fundraising component was a basket raffle that helped support the organization’s Christmas outreach later in the year.
Boehm emphasized that the carnival was fully sponsor-funded and separate from donations used for Father Carr’s direct social service programs.
“The carnival this year was about a $40,000 event,” he said. “But it was 100 percent sponsored. It didn’t cost Father Carr’s anything to put on. We just did the work and gathered the team of volunteers.”
That work reflected the broader mission of Father Carr’s Place 2B, which describes itself as a life-enrichment center serving the Oshkosh community. The organization operates a food pantry, free medical clinic and housing programs while also helping individuals rebuild structure and stability in their lives.
“We are helping people change their lives,” Boehm said. “We’re really good at helping people change their lives.”
Demand for services has continued to rise. Boehm noted that the food pantry saw significant increases during periods of inflation and the current uncertainty surrounding SNAP benefits. The clinic served more than 2,200 patients in 2025, up substantially from the previous year. Housing programs remained near capacity.
Still, Boehm said the carnival reflected another important dimension of service, restoring joy, dignity and connection for families who may be struggling financially or emotionally.
That spirit of joyful service quietly reflected the organization’s Catholic roots. “Giving is one of them. Volunteering is one of them,” he said.
While there were no formal religious activities tied directly to the carnival attractions, prayer remained part of the day. Volunteers prayed continuously in the chapel throughout the event for families, sponsors, volunteers and anyone attending. Guests were also invited to submit prayer intentions. “We had people praying all day long,” Boehm said.
The event also highlighted the power of community partnerships. Outreach teams from the Oshkosh Police Department, Oshkosh Fire Department and the Wisconsin Army National Guard joined agencies including Head Start, the YMCA and other service organizations to connect families with available community resources.
“We wanted people to have fun,” Boehm said, “but we also wanted parents to understand the resources that were there if they needed help.”
The carnival’s growth over four years reflects the community’s strong embrace of its mission. Boehm remembered the second-year event when heavy rain fell almost continuously, soaking volunteers, vendors and guests alike.
“We were completely soaked,” Boehm said. “But everybody was smiling.”
Saturday’s weather was much kinder this year, and organizers estimated attendance between 4,000 and 5,000 people throughout the day. Younger children gravitated toward crafts and face painting while older children and teenagers packed the larger rides, obstacle courses and climbing wall.
“There’s something here for everybody,” Boehm said. “Toddlers, middle schoolers, teenagers, parents, everyone.”
By evening, the rides were dismantled and the crowds gone. But the sense of welcome lingered.
In a time when many families continue to feel stretched financially and emotionally, the carnival offered something simple but deeply meaningful, a reminder that joy, dignity and community should never depend on someone’s ability to pay.
“We felt blessed to be able to do this,” Boehm said. “The Lord provides through the people who help us, our donors, our volunteers. If we focus on serving people and providing what they need, everything else gets taken care of.”