The Cleveland County CROP Walk To STOP Hunger will host a Sidewalk Chalk Art Contest for Kids & Families on Saturday, September 15, outside the Performing Arts Studio at the Santa Fe Depot, 200 S. Jones in Norman.  Registration is from 9-9:30 a.m., and the contest is from 9:30-11:30.

The theme is “Helping The Hungry-Making A Difference.” Children will be grouped by age, with a separate category for family entries. Professional artists will be on hand to offer guidance and serve as judges. Chalk and refreshments will be provided; participants may bring their own chalk as well. Entry fee for the contest is a donation of peanut butter or tuna, which will be distributed to food pantries throughout Cleveland County.

“The contest helps raise awareness about the impact of hunger and poverty on families.  Most importantly, it teaches children to use art and creativity to bring positive change to their world,” said Ed Kearns, the event’s director.

Among prize donors are the Firehouse Art Center, Sooner Theatre, Cimarron Opera, Scissortail School of Art, Sandalwood & Sage, Bearfoot Books, Hideaway Pizza and HeyDay Family Fun Center. Each child will receive a certificate for participating.  Plus, a Moms Only Prize Drawing will be held for a spa day, hairdos, lunch for four, a gift card for gourmet foods, and more.  Participants will also be treated to African storytelling and drumming by Jahruba.

“We’ve had so many local arts organizations and artists donate prizes and their talent.  The Performing Arts Studio, Norman Arts Council and the city’s Visitors’ Bureau have also lent support,” Kearns added.  “It’s very moving to see how Norman’s arts community has come together to help CROP Walk fight hunger and poverty.”

The Cleveland County CROP Walk will take place on Sunday, October 7, with a 1:30 p.m. registration and a 2 p.m. step off.  The three mile, 45-minute walk-a-thon begins and ends at Norman’s Food & Shelter Inc., 104 W. Comanche. A quarter of the proceeds raised will be donated to Food & Shelter, which has provided emergency housing to homeless families and meals to the hungry for over 20 years. The remaining proceeds help support hunger-fighting, disaster relief and development projects of the Church World Service across America and in more than 80 countries.  Peanut butter and tuna will also be collected on walk day to support food pantries countywide.

Pre-walk fun will include performances by a contingent of the Pride of Oklahoma and the Manyawi Children’s World Music Ensemble, plus face painting for kids. The event will culminate with a hot dog cookout featuring dance music by  DJ Adrian Buendia.  Rest stations along the route will offer restrooms and water for participants as well as water and treats for furry walkers.

“The CROP Walk is a fun family time where lessons in caring are learned,” noted Chairwoman Jane Pennington.  “It’s a great feeling to walk with your family and friends, knowing that together you are doing something to alleviate hunger and poverty around the world and right here in our own backyard.”

CROP Walk Sidewalk Chalk Art Contest Sponsors are Barefoot Books, Blu Fine Wine & Food, Cimarron Opera, Cutz Hair Salon, Firehouse Art Center, Forward Foods, Ginko Tree Art Center, GR8 Massage Spa, Hey Day Family Fun Center, Hideaway Pizza, Jahruba,  Norman Music Institute, Performing Arts Studio-Santa Fe Depot, Sandalwood & Sage Scissortail School of Art, Sonder Music, Sooner Theatre. For information contact, Ed Kearns at 443-9627 or visit online at clevelandcountycropwalk.org