Chalkin' It Up!

There are many, many reasons why I love Norman (even if I do still feel some allegiance to that other Oklahoma university).  One of them is the sheer variety of fun and beneficial activities you can find to keep yourself and your kids entertained.  Today was one of those random and great activities, and it was my favorite price, free!





Every year there is an event called the Cleveland County Crop Walk.  It is a walk to raise food and awareness about the problem of world hunger.  The entry fee is a jar of peanut butter or a can of tuna.  It is an activity that my family tries to participate in, schedule permitting.  This  year, through our church newsletter, I discovered the Sidewalk Chalk Art Contest, an additional event that is part of the Crop Walk.  Held at the old Santa Fe depot, the event included a sidewalk art contest, drinks and cookies, prizes, and fabulous African drumming and storytelling with Jahruba.  If you haven't had the pleasure of seeing this man perform, it is something to see!

At the end of the performance, there were prizes and giveaways and our little munchkins won!  Okay, so every kid there won!  Seriously, there were a lot of prizes and they were great.  There were even prizes for mommies (smart people). We brought friends who were on their way to back to California, so we ended up with their prizes too.  By the end, we had gift certificates to two different restaurants, a family pass to Hey Day Family Fun Center, and a gift box of Biolage hair products.  Not bad for a few cans of tuna!  I think for all that fun and free stuff I need to pick up an extra case of tuna for the Crop Walk the next time I go to the store.  This was such a fun event and supports a very worthy cause.  I will definitely put this on my radar for next year!

Even if you missed the chalk contest, you can still make the Crop Walk, its on Sunday, October 2nd at 1:30.  Like the chalk contest, your entry fee is a can of tuna or a jar of peanut butter.  Our fantastic church donates $25 for every member who walks so that means our foursome will pull in $100 to help feed the hungry.  I can't think of a better family activity!