Mt. Olive Simply Cook It, a do-it-yourself meal preparation store in Mt. Olive, is celebrating Family Day - A Day to Eat Dinner with Your Children on Monday, Sept. 25 with an open house and art exhibition of creative works by children from Kiddie Academy in Sparta. The celebration will include door prizes, discount coupons, samples of menu options, and more. Family Day (www.casafamilyday.org) was created by the National Center on Addiction and Substance Abuse (CASA) at Columbia University in 2001. Studies have shown that families who consistently eat dinner together are less likely to smoke, drink or do drugs as conversation generally goes hand-in-hand with dinner and helps parents learn more about their children’s lives and better understand the challenges they face. Yet, today’s reality is that many parents find work and after school activity schedules often are conspiring against them. Simply Cook It offers gourmet family menu selections that are prepped in advance for an average of $3 per person. “One of the reasons we opened our store was to accommodate busy families who have so little time these days to prepare a great meal from scratch for their family,” says Annette Grieco, Manager, Simply Cook It. “We couldn’t agree more with the motivation behind Family Day and are happy to play a part.” Jill Malanga, owner of Kiddie Academy in Sparta adds: “It’s never too early to talk to kids about the importance of good family time. The dinner table is a great place to discuss the day’s events and learn more about each other’s lives. We are thrilled to be a part of this effort and are proud to have our children’s artwork displayed for all to see.” President George Bush, governors of 47 states, and Fortune 500 companies have endorsed the national campaign. All area residents are invited to come to the Simply Cook It store at 61 International Drive South (near Sam’s Club and Staples) from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m., starting Sept. 19 to join in on this family event. They may sign up to purchase one meal that can be picked up before Saturday at noon to be enjoyed on Family Day. The Kiddie Academy artwork will be displayed beginning Sept. 20. For more information, visit www.simplycookit.net.