President Louise Small (right) received Arts in the Park proceeds donation.
During Arts in the Park, our Rotarians barbecued food for the visiting family and provided the proceeds to Rally for Children. President Small thanked our club and provided the history on the park event. The Rally for Children group started 30 years ago with the first Arts in the Park happening 27 years ago. President Small joined at the start and rotates in as president on a regular basis The group has 20 active members and great community support.
The community support makes thing happen! The schools and PTA provided wonderful Arts in the Park advertisement.. On May 1st, School bus drivers delivered 2500 people to and from the school parking lots. This event cost $12,000 because it could deploy two years of funds not used during COVID. (George announced that was one good thing from COVID!) Both the Boy Scouts and Girl Scouts helped this year. The Fallbrook Garden Club provided planting experience and another volunteer demonstrate how to make paper-mâché.
Many children —- mostly four to ten year olds — enjoyed experiencing all kinds of art. Kids; covered in dirt, paint, and glue; created a wonderful sight. President Small wondered how the parents got them in the car with all that stuff! The clay was very popular not only with the kids but parents and grandparents who enjoyed 300 pounds of it. Grandmas said, “Give me a few more minutes to play with it!” There were 1,000 walking sticks made that day. The Fallbrook Music Society and a Bonsall fiddler brought music to the event. A visiting tortoise had to be fenced in rather than free to roam the event. So, he received lots of treats because no one wanted a grouchy tortoise!
President Small appreciated our Rotary’s assistance and pointed out she saw Don and George working hard in the BBQ smoke. She remembered seeing John manning the food lines. She was so happy that our new member, Jon Dickson, could help with the BBQ and still spend time with his toddlers at the event.