I tried really hard to create a new community event this year: a Middle School Cooking Challenge. I started organizing, planning, communicating, etc. last January. I invited 4 local middle schools to participate but did not get an enthusiastic response. Two weeks ago, I had to admit defeat and canceled the event. Shawn Baker, the after-school program coordinator at Rio Linda Prep, was the best at keeping in touch and trying to generate interest at Rio Linda Preparatory Academy. To thank him, I arranged to meet the students this afternoon and brought all the ingredients for each of them to make their own healthy after-school snack: whole-grain waffle, whipped cream cheese, (homemade) apricot-pineapple jam, and blueberries. Oh my, what a mess we made, but it turned out delicious.
At the end, I asked them what they knew about me. Huh? Finally someone read the words on my t-shirt and said “You like to ride bicycles?” Correct answer. Then each student got a goody bag of reflective stickers and snap bracelets, a pencil with a safety message, and a bicycle keychain. (Since May is Bike Month, I have lots of little things I can give away.)
arletelouise 