MARIETTA - Grace Hyde, 7, of Walker, carefully chose a kite as her prize for taking part in Sunday's 16th annual Great Paper Airplane Contest at Marietta's First Unitarian Universalist Church.
"I made six paper planes altogether," she said. "I've been learning how to build them from my sister, Lydia."
Her father, Sam, noted the Hyde clan did very well during Sunday's event.
"This is the third year we've participated," he said. "In fact, the very first Sunday I came to this church was a paper airplane Sunday. So we came back."
The Hydes were among approximately 20 participants of all ages who constructed their own paper planes, then launched them from the church balcony toward a target on the main floor. The paper gliders also competed in distance and length-of-time-in-the-air events.
Coordinator John Maddox said the event is gaining in popularity each year, and it serves a good cause.
"The concept is that every March we do a project to get food donations, and we encourage anyone who wants to take part in the Great Paper Airplane Contest to bring canned food," he said.
"In the past we've donated to the food pantry in Marietta, and this year we're giving it to the Old Man Rivers pantry in Parkersburg as we have several families that attend our church from the Parkersburg area," Maddox added.
"We have a good time, and anyone in the community is welcome to participate," he said. "And next year we're adding a parachute egg drop to the paper plane contest."
The First Unitarian Universalist Society in Marietta was founded in 1855, and the church, located at the corner of Third and Putnam streets, was built two years later.
