MASSENA -- Four to six hundred people are expected at the third Love Massena Day, to be held July 25 from noon to 3 p.m. at Alcoa Field.

“It’s supped to be very positive, no hooks in it, everything’s free,” said Don Curry, one of the event’s organizers and a pastor at New Testament Church.

The event will include hot dogs, cold and hot drinks, a three-on-three basketball tournament, face-painting, balloon creations and kids’ games, all of which are free. Chase the Light Productions will donate DJ services.

Curry said the event will close with an eating contest with whatever food is left over.

“It’s just a neat thing to do,” he said.

Area churches have contributed school supplies for 60 children. They will be given away in backpacks to 10 needy families at six area elementary schools. That includes Massena’s Jefferson, Madison and Nightengale elementaries, as well as Norwood-Norfolk, Madrid-Waddington and St. Lawrence Central.

Curry said the event started in 2013 in response to the decline of the neighborhood in which Alcoa Field is located, and the community in general.

“It started that year because … that part of the neighborhood had some serious issues, drug problems, there was a drive-by shooting,” Curry said.

He said he spoke to a local resident about the neighborhood troubles and they came up with the idea because they “wanted to promote something positive.”