News, Youth Events Jennie Koenig News, Youth Events Jennie Koenig

Post Game Party 2024

It was a chilly night in Pleasantville for our 2024 Post Game Party! Luckily our volunteers were ready with music, snacks, and several photo opportunities for teens to enjoy together! We love providing a fun and safe space for teens to spend time with each other.

Over 100 teens grades 7-12 attended this year’s event!

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Homecoming 2024

One of our favorite weeks of the year: HOMECOMING! We were so excited to participate again in our small town parade and cheer on the Trojans throughout the week!




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News, Youth Events, Prom Jennie Koenig News, Youth Events, Prom Jennie Koenig

Prom Prep morning 2024

We had a fantastic morning spoiling Pleasantville’s prom attendee girls! All young women attending prom were invited to stop by the Memorial Hall to grab an iced coffee or juice, some delicious carbohydrates from Panera Bread, and a goody bag from us! Bags were filled with prom day essentials like lip gloss, gum, bandaids, tissues, hair clips, and more.

Girls were also invited to reserve an appointment to have their hair or makeup done for free by talented volunteers! The spots filled up fast, but we also had volunteers on hand for walk-ins.

We had a great morning encouraging these young women with some pampering and fun!

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Christmas, Youth Events, Gifts, News, Meal, Party, Fun Jennie Koenig Christmas, Youth Events, Gifts, News, Meal, Party, Fun Jennie Koenig

Chick-fil-a christmas dinner 2024

What a FUN NIGHT! We had so much fun serving these teens tonight! Chick-fil-a, Christmas Tree Cakes, Sparkling Cider, and PRESENTS! A room filled with JOY. Teens were welcomed into a room decorated with lovely tables and candle-lit dinner. They remained seated as our volunteers served them their meals, drinks, and desserts. Then we passed out gifts for everyone! Each box contained fun novelty items for the teens to enjoy together. One item that was included was a retro WWJD bracelet (what would Jesus do).

Our goal for this event was to allow the teens to be served by us with no expectations from them whatsoever. We spent time talking with teens at each table and were able to encourage them. There was a lot of laughing, and a lot of fun!

Thanks to Marcy Pettyjohn for donating all the little paper ”crackers”, and to St. Paul’s UMC for the use of your Family Life Center!

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FCA Worship Night

We were so excited to help at the FCA (Fellowship of Christian Athletes) worship night at Pleasantville Christian Church. We were able to bring cookies donated by Subway as well as drinks to offer as refreshments following the service.

Originally the event was intended to be an outdoor service behind the library. When heavy rain threatened to cancel the event, Pleasantville Christian Church stepped up to open their doors to the teens who had organized the event.

It was a beautiful night of worship!

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Youth Events, News, Gifts, Fun, Events, Community, Prom Jennie Koenig Youth Events, News, Gifts, Fun, Events, Community, Prom Jennie Koenig

Girls Prom Prep and Brunch

On Saturday, April 22nd, PvilleYI hosted a free girls prom prep day and brunch. We had five volunteers ready to do hair and makeup for girls for free. These were by appointment, and our volunteers were busy the whole day!

In addition, all girls attending the PHS prom were invited to drop-in for a prom day brunch. We served them a beautiful charcuterie-style spread complete with yogurt parfait, fruit, pastries, chicken salad sandwiches, meats and cheeses, and of course, Girl Scout cookies! Tables were also decorated with tulips picked from our very own gardens.

Girls were also welcomed with an ice-coffee bar and a delicious breakfast punch.

Each girl left with a gift bag containing a pura-vida bracelet, scrunchies, candy, gum, and a few items they may need in a pinch on prom day including some tissues, bandaids, makeup wipes, and lip gloss.

We absolutely loved to welcome these girls with open arms and bless them with some hospitality on their special day!

A HUGE THANK YOU goes to our hair and make-up volunteers: Holly DeGoey, Sierra Hutton, Taelor Sheets, Grace Hayes, and Chelsea Bender. Also to Brenda Goodale who donated acrylic nail sets for the girls to have! And to Tammy Clark for her help in set up, welcoming, and clean up.

Another HUGE THANK YOU goes to Ali and Mike Cranmer for donating pastries from jaarsma and Pella beef sticks/cheese curds.


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Events, Fun, Middle School, News, Youth Events Jennie Koenig Events, Fun, Middle School, News, Youth Events Jennie Koenig

Middle School Winter Dance Night

On February 3rd, 2023, we had a BLAST hosting a Middle School only Dance Night at Pleasantville’s Memorial Hall! Cass was back with Central Iowa DJ blasting tunes. We offered free drinks and snacks as always, and the kids had a fantastic time dancing and snapping photos at the photo booth area. We had fun giveaways, too!

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Christmas, Events, Fun, MS and HS Events, News, Youth Events Jennie Koenig Christmas, Events, Fun, MS and HS Events, News, Youth Events Jennie Koenig

The PvilleYI Very Merry Chick-Fil-A Christmas Dinner

On December 20th, 2022, PvilleYI hosted the Very Merry Chick-Fil-A Christmas Dinner! Middle and High School students were invited to attend. The event was held at Fairview Christian Church and catered by Chick-Fil-A. Teens were welcomed with festive tables and a small stocking filled with candy and fun items. Marcy Pettyjohn sewed each little stocking and donated them. The teens loved them!

It was a very fun night and everyone left with full tummies and a lot of great memories.

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Youth Events, News, MS and HS Events Jennie Koenig Youth Events, News, MS and HS Events Jennie Koenig

Post Game Party 2022

We were so excited to have 120 students attend our 2022 Post Game Party! That is our highest event attendance to date. This event was, as always, FREE.

This event was for Middle School and High School students and took place after the PHS home football game. Students were greeted warmly (quite literally, it was COLD!) and welcomed into the Memorial Hall. Tons of snacks and pop were waiting for them, as well as tables to hang out at and a dance floor booming with music thanks to Cass Lester with Central Iowa DJ.

We had such a great time!

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Youth Events, Middle School, Fun, News Jennie Koenig Youth Events, Middle School, Fun, News Jennie Koenig

Our Middle School Dance was EPIC!

95 Students attended our annual Middle School Dance on September 23, 2022. That’s just about every 7th and 8th grader that attends Pleasantville Schools!

We had tons of snacks, funny giveaways, DJ and atmosphere, and of course our photo booth.

A huge THANKS goes to The City of Pleasantville for the use of the Memorial Hall, as well as to Cass Lester with Central Iowa Dj.

We danced the night away!


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Girl Scouts, Fun, Events, Outreach, News, Youth Events Jennie Koenig Girl Scouts, Fun, Events, Outreach, News, Youth Events Jennie Koenig

Girl Scout Troop Mommy & Me Spa Day

On Friday, May 6th, PvilleYI was excited to be invited to help out at a very special Mommy and Me Spa Day hosted by Pleasantville’s Girl Scout troop! We provided a table where the girls could give their moms a luxurious sugar hand scrub, followed by some lovely lotions and perfume. We also donated a bag of goodies for each mom and daughter to take home with them. It was a FUN time!



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Outreach, Youth Events, Community, Class, Girl Scouts, News Jennie Koenig Outreach, Youth Events, Community, Class, Girl Scouts, News Jennie Koenig

Cookie Decorating With Pleasantville Girl Scouts

On February 16, 2022, PvilleYI Co-Founder Emily Caulkins taught our local Pleasantville Girl Scout Troop 624. It was a ton of fun! The Girl Scouts learned a little bit about the science of baking, as well as techniques for decorating sugar cookies like a pro.

The cookies and frosting the Girl Scouts used were made at our cookie decorating class the night before, where we taught teens how to mix, roll out, cut, and bake sugar cookies.

We were so happy to spend time with all these happy, smiling faces! We’re proud of these Girl Scouts and congratulations on getting your baking badges!

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Cookie Making Class

On February 15th, 2022, we had a cookie making class for a small group of middle school and high school students. PvilleYI co-founder Emily Caulkins taught the teens the basics of making large batches of sugar cookies. She showed them how to carefully measure ingredients (yes, you really do need to make sure that was 2 cups and not 3), how to mix the ingredients properly, how to roll the dough just right, and how to use cookie cutters and bake the cookies. The teens also made delicious frosting.

This class was for the teens to learn baking skills, but it was also an opportunity for them to give back to the community. These cookies and frosting were going to be used by our Pleasantville Girl Scout troop to use for their cookie decorating class, which Emily taught as well.

We served these helpful bakers some pizza while we waited for cookies to bake. During this time we were able to talk and learn about each other, see the teens incredible art in their sketchbooks, and laugh together.

It was a fantastic time. Thank you to Pleasantville’s St. Paul’s United Methodist Church for allowing us to use their Family Life Center and kitchen for this event!

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MS and HS Events, Youth Events, Christmas Jennie Koenig MS and HS Events, Youth Events, Christmas Jennie Koenig

Christmas Party Drop-In at Smokey Row

On December 23rd, 2021, we set up at Smokey Row for a couple of hours so teens could stop in and get a treat and a gift from us! We had cookies, hot chocolate, and of course a gift bag full of fun small gifts for each teen who dropped in. It was a lot of fun! HUGE thank you to Smokey Row for donating Hot Chocolate and allowing us to use their awesome facility! WE LOVE SMOKEY ROW!

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Knoxville Rec Center Night Nov. 2021

On November 20th, 2021, PvilleYI rented the Knoxville Rec Center for a night of swimming and basketball for middle school and high school students. It was a TON of fun packed into two hours. Snacks were provided and a fun time was had by all! We hope to make this a regular event for students. They really enjoyed spending time together in a safe environment. Thanks Knoxville Rec Center!

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